Keep In Mind
There's more to ensuring the success of your construction project than just hiring the right designers, the right developers and the right contractors. Here are some other key considerations to factor in to your planning:
Proper permits and approvals
The proper permits and approvals must be issued before any construction can begin. Government regulations and permit approval timeframes often contribute to making permitting a time consuming, complex and frustrating process.
Your site plan
Your site plan must be completed and submitted to the local county regulatory offices. Geotechnical reports must be made. If the project is located next to a state highway, there also are State Department of Transportation (i.e., VDOT, DDOT, etc.) regulations to consider.
Additional planning and permitting
Architectural, engineering, and plumbing plans must be submitted and approved. Permits are needed for grading, sheeting & shoring, and the shell building. Specialty permits are needed for special cases.
Inspections
Fire marshal, health department and ADA inspections must be scheduled; this is only a short list of specific inspections your project may require. Moreover, the various parts of the process fall under the umbrella of different regulations and ordinances which are subsequently enforced by different agencies managed by different groups of people in different office locations.
Questions to consider:
Important questions to ask regarding your new construction project include:
- How does a successful commercial construction process unfold?
- Who is qualified to keep track of all these items, submissions and red tape?
- Who knows how to navigate the best course through the complex process sequence?
- Who can make sure that the supermarket, the hospital, the hotel expansion etc. is completed on schedule and on budget?