From the stories you’ve heard from peers or others in the industry, it might sound almost impossible to achieve a commercial build that’s completed on time and on budget.

We’re here to tell you that it is possible (and, in fact, not all that difficult), especially if you follow these three tips.

Hire the Right Team

One of the easiest ways to see that your final build meets your overall goals and expectations is to plan ahead for them.

This starts by securing the right team for your project. Do your due diligence when it comes to hiring a general contractor. Ask tough questions. Understand their communication style and experience with projects similar to yours. Talk to their references. Ensure that they’re licensed, bonded and insured for work in Florida.

Having the right team for your project (and a local one at that) will pay dividends. Not only will you be getting their experience and expertise, you’ll also be gaining a partner who will help you navigate a highly complex and heavily regulated process.

Plan for Everything (that means: don’t cut corners when it comes to pre-construction)

The best defense is a strong offense. Go into your project knowing its potential weaknesses – and identify solutions to them.

Making a feasible game plan – and sticking to it – means having tough conversations early on during pre-construction. It’s far easier to work through potential roadblocks with a project’s buildability or design before construction begins than it is once the build is underway.

Identify Opportunities to Value Engineer

Would an alternate material or solution for your project achieve the same effect while costing considerably less? This is value engineering and your construction team (see tip #1 above) will help you do so.

Spend some time thinking about what’s really important to your project and the effect you want it to have. Then consider your budget. Your general contractor will have a thorough understanding of the current market and can help you evaluate how to get the most bang for your buck when it comes to all aspects of the build, including suggesting material or design alternatives.

If you’re considering a project in South Florida, get in touch with our team at Seacoast Construction. We have been completing residential and commercial builds in SoFla for the past 20+ years and are ready to help you with yours.