How to avoid construction delays: hiring expediters
A study by McKinsey & Company discovered large construction projects typically exceed their original schedule by 20% or more and are sometimes up to 80% over budget. When you look at the cost per day of these types of projects, that can lead to a budget overrun of tens or hundreds of millions of dollars.
While delays happen due to uncontrollable factors, like weather, many occur because of missing data, mistakes in permit filings, and violations—all of which are preventable. There are many things you can do to avoid construction delays, and at the top of the list is hiring a reputable expediting firm.
What permit expediters do
Expediters do exactly what it sounds like: speed things up. And, now, more than ever, many construction firms realize their value. With a vast amount of experience and knowledge, we weigh in on many different aspects of construction. This includes:
providing up-to-date consulting on all applicable codes
helping you understand state and local laws and regulations
reviewing plans and blueprints
doing all of the pre-work required for submission
securing permits and filing for approvals, as needed
and more
Hiring permit expediters is the answer to how to avoid construction delays and save money
The number of regulations, government entities, and suppliers involved in construction processes keeps growing. Having experts handle every step of the way is critical. It allows you to gain approvals quickly and keep things moving. Yes, paying a firm for expediting feels like yet another extra upfront cost. But our clients say it always pays off because it results in saved time, money, and fewer headaches and hassle.
How permit expediters save you time and money
New construction and modifications to existing buildings are bound to ever-changing rules. One mistake or misunderstanding in codes or plans can completely derail a project's timeline. With a project on pause, time to completion skyrockets. (And costs follow.) A knowledgeable expediting firm eliminates a number of potential delays. We do that through services that basically "have your back."
For one, our Project Managers are well versed in the DOB's systems. When you hire us, you don't need to understand the submission process. Wait in line for approvals. Go back and forth with government offices. Or resubmit plans again and again. The upfront work we do (and our reputation with NYC government entities) lets us minimize the process. We give guidance on relevant codes and laws and review plans and changes. And we only submit applications when they've checked all the boxes. Because that way, you gain the approvals you need to move forward asap.
Is permit expediting expensive?
The work required for gaining approvals always comes at a cost—usually up front or on the backend. Without a permit expediting firm, one or more of your employees will need to devote a substantial amount of their time to the process. And this may mean reviewing plans, codes, and submission processes they are not familiar with. With no expertise in that area, your company may find you're resubmitting, waiting, or dealing with violations or other overlooked aspects of permitting. Often, our clients find outsourcing permit expediting saves money because it saves a substantial amount time. (And that's before accounting for the mistakes mentioned earlier.)
If you want to talk about a specific project or any of our services, please reach out to us. We're always happy to listen and share how we can help.
