Opinion: How to ensure dream projects become reality

Watching your dreams come true in the form of designing and constructing a home or business space is the most impactful experience many people ever encounter. Throughout, the process of forming the initial idea, watching the idea come to life on paper, seeing the design come to fruition throughout the construction process, and experiencing opening day can bring undeniable joy. The unknowns and constant change can also bring undeniable stress if a project doesn’t take off in the right direction.

Imagine falling in love with a focal point piece of marble and the excitement of opening a store after years of planning. Would you be crushed if you found out the marble is no longer available, or your soft opening is going to be delayed by weeks because of final finishes and inspections? Who wouldn’t!

Supply chain disruptions, manpower shortages and record cost increases over the last couple of years have led to heightened difficulties for developers and owners planning construction projects. Before pursuing a construction project, it is important to analyze the significance of the following: budget, timelines, product specificity and quality. Communicating what is most important in a project prior to developing budgets and timelines can assist a contractor or construction manager with setting the project up for success.

There are circumstances when an owner can allocate more funding in a budget to accelerate a project with overtime for manpower or expedited shipping costs; however, some challenges such as lead times are generally not impacted by a larger budget. Lead times are especially relevant in the supply chain for construction supplies, but lead times should also be considered when hiring subcontractors or scheduling inspections.

Manpower shortages have impacted permits, inspections and other regulatory requirements. Larger cities such as Springfield may require longer periods of time to review plans or change orders. When planning a timeline or working through a project, keep in mind the completion of a project does not necessarily equate to occupancy of the building. Building in buffer days and weather days can help a project complete on time.

With supply chain disruptions prevalent for all industries, the construction industry is faced with the decision of emphasizing a timeline or focusing on product specificity. Design teams can build in a flexibility on brands or can focus on one specific product while building in alternates that can be used if timelines or cost effectiveness becomes an issue. Being open to a variety of suppliers, brands and even styles can give contractors the flexibility to research and order similar products with shorter lead times. Unfortunately, adjusting product suppliers and brands does not always have the desired effect on shortening timelines, so it is important to continue to be as flexible as possible with timelines.

It also is important to remember there is often a long-term cost to cutting project budgets by decreasing quality. Hiring “fly by night” type contractors can have the appearance of lowering project costs with lower manpower expenses; however, it can be a risky practice. Cutting costs by hiring less-than-reputable contractors can put an owner at risk if something happens and the contractor does not have adequate insurance. There are also often reductions in warranty coverages, meaning the contractor may not fix issues that arise later. If the quality of work is decreased, the products used may not last as long or there can be worse issues under the surface to cause safety concerns for the owner and tenants – for instance, structural integrity or mold issues. Most reputable contractors will build a structure or project to withstand necessary elements and account for changes such as wood swelling or constricting with weather changes.

Hiring a team of designers and contractors who fit your needs and focus can set a project up for success and reduce the inevitable stress that comes along with watching your dreams come to fruition. With increased inflation and unpredictable supply chain disruptions, construction projects must be flexible today. A construction team is working together to make your dream project as perfect as possible, so plan to give grace along the way as you remember everyone is on the same team.

Flexibility and communication can ensure a project is set up for success and stays on course.

Megan Short is executive director of the Springfield Contractors Association, a member of the Salute to Design & Construction Council. She can be reached at
megan@springfieldcontractors.org.