The housing market in South Florida never seems to slow down. There is constant demand for all types of properties, including multi-family. From apartment buildings to townhomes and everything in between, the diverse market in and around the greater Miami area is enough to keep developers going day and night with new projects.

If you’re planning to embark on a multi-family project in Miami-Dade, Broward or Palm Beach County, there are some steps you can take now to ensure success with your build.

Tips for Navigating Multi-Family Builds in SoFla

• First, surround yourself with competent professionals – Significant project work takes place well before ground is broken on a multi-family build, so you want an all-star team in place as soon as possible. Assemble an experienced team early during pre-construction so they can guide and advise you on best practices, ensure budgets and timelines are in alignment with your goals, and tighten up any contracts that could otherwise lead to problems. Industry professionals to include on your team are general contractors, architects, engineers, consultants and others as needed.

• Conduct a feasibility study/buildability report once you’ve selected a site – Selecting a site for your multi-family property requires market research and an understanding of local zoning regulations. Once you’ve selected a site, however, you must also ensure that your build can be constructed as designed. This is where a constructability report comes in. This report evaluates potential obstacles that may inhibit the project from proceeding as planned, as well as identifies areas to improve efficiencies during the build – both of which are essential for preventing potential errors, delays, or budget overruns once the project gets started.

• Secure necessary permits – While we like to be optimists, when it comes to permitting in Miami-Dade, we have to be realists. And the reality is that the permitting process here can be painfully awful if you aren’t prepared. Fortunately, there are ways to speed up your next permit run. Check out this post for some tips, and talk with your construction consultant about other ways to expedite permit approvals in South Florida.

Navigating ground-up multi-family projects requires close collaboration among your project team and other stakeholders. You can run into trouble if there’s miscommunication (or worse – no communication at all). To ensure success with your build, seek guidance from industry experts and partner with trustworthy professionals every step of the way.

To learn more about our construction consultant services for multi-family projects in Florida, get in touch with our team at Seacoast Consultants. We have more than 20 years of experience representing clients throughout Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties in various capacities, including as general contractors, owner’s representatives and construction consultants. Contact us to learn more about how we can help you with your next project.