Taking a commercial construction project up from the ground needs careful planning and attention to every detail. From beginning to completion, there are many challenges and risk factors associated with commercial construction, which have to be tackled through the combined efforts of the architect, contractor, and project owners. Unlike residential projects, commercial projects require a different set of skills by the workers, effective collaboration with various other functional material suppliers, and customization of the project needs based on the purpose of the construction.
Whether you are building your commercial structure or working with a contractor to accomplish the same, it is essential to plan your commercial project effectively. Here, we will discuss a few tips for the same from an expert.
Reddy Kancharla on commercial project planning
Reddy Kancharla is one of the leading consultants in commercial construction projects and has accomplished many projects successfully over the last couple of decades. In this article, he will explain some of the essential aspects of commercial construction project planning, which everyone should consider.
- Planning the project budget
It is important to plan the budget properly before initiating any construction project. Ensure that you have the financing available to meet the capital budgetary needs until completion. The budget you set should cover all costs such as the fee for the land, material cost, design and construction charges, and the allied costs, etc. you may also consider about 5 to 10% contingency in the overall budget.
- Understand the delivery methods
Contractors may offer various delivery methods to complete the commercial projects such as hard build, design-build, cost plus, remodeling, renovations, and so on. So, you need to learn and understand the specification of these various models to identify which is your exact need. It can affect the cost, delivery time, and other aspects of your commercial construction.
- Choose the right contractor
Half of your headache is over if you do this part right. When choosing a commercial project contractor, it is essential to ensure that the contractor possesses enough experience, resources, and skills to accomplish the project successfully. They also should have established solid work relationships with the architects and subcontractors with quality workmanship and skills. It is also essential to find someone who will not cut corners to meet the deadlines and budgetary needs.
- Frequent communication
For any construction project, it is important to have effective and timely communication to ensure success. This is more important in the case of a commercial project, which has more complexity. Being the property owner, you need to communicate with the contractor to ensure that each phase of the construction project is completed as per your requirement. As the project owner, you should make decisions and also confront unforeseen situations during the construction. Keep a close and friendly communication channel open with the contractor and other stakeholders to ensure everything runs smoothly till the end.
For commercial construction projects, Reddy Kancharla suggests getting the consultation of a construction project manager, who will act on your behalf and make use of the professional experience and knowledge to ensure that all aspects of a commercial construction project are well taken care of.