In commercial construction, your timeline and budget are everything. So how do you keep your wheels aligned when it seems like you’re headed way off course?

First things first – don’t panic (too much). A little healthy stress and adrenaline might be just what you need to take action on a project whose timeline appears to be in jeopardy, but more importantly, take a deep breath and evaluate where things stand. Over the past two decades, we’ve been hired mid-construction countless times to get a build back on track. Here’s what we’ve learned on where to start:

Assess your current situation

If you’ve been following your pre-construction plans, you should have a good idea of what went wrong and where. But don’t just gloss over the problem to quickly find a new solution. Take the time to diagnose and truly identify the root cause of the delay. Did it stem from miscommunication resulting in too many reworks, or was it poor handling of materials and subcontractors?

At the most basic level, if you don’t truly understand the problem, you won’t be able to implement the right solution.

Take action to correct course

An experienced general contractor will be able to anticipate if potential problems are on the horizon. Even better, they will be able to offer contingency solutions to get your project back on track. For example, this may mean calling in additional labor to assist with reworks or keeping a list of back-up subcontractors at the ready. If delays are weather related, ensure new plans are in place to get back up to speed quickly.

Don’t wait until it’s too late

Delays often creep in when communication breaks down. Suddenly a day turns into a week, and a week turns into two before problems are addressed. Maintain frequent contact with your general contractor to ensure everyone on the team is continuing to execute against the plan as planned and that any delays get addressed and solved before it’s too late.

And don’t forget the paperwork

When a project starts dropping behind schedule and the focus is entirely centered on catching back up, one of the common tasks that gets put to the backburner is any and all paperwork. Even if your construction project catches up and finishes the build on schedule, all-too-often the process to close out permits becomes a major delay – something that can lead to expensive rebuilds. Making sure that the build won’t run into delays after the cleanup crew has finished is essential throughout construction.

Unexpected changes that are both in and out of our control are part and parcel of commercial construction projects, but that doesn’t mean they have to set back your project’s timeline. If you have questions about how to ensure your project is completed on time and on budget, give us a call at 786-433-8740. We’re happy to answer any of your questions.