3 Important Reasons for an Owner’s Rep

moneyMoney

The contractor and architect’s primary interest is not controlling the cost of the project. In fact, the opposite is usually the case; the more your project costs, the more money they make. The one person on the project explicitly looking after your financial interest is the Owner’s Rep.

This is not to suggest that good contractors and architects aren’t responsible for honoring your budget, as most recognize that their success is directly related to your approval. However, construction projects are by their nature complicated endeavors with a long cast of characters and lots of decisions. In the midst of all this, your bottom line is often overlooked.

timeTime

In terms of both project duration and your personal involvement, an Owner’s Rep can be an asset. Far too often projects are unnecessarily delayed or drawn-out because of a lack of communication between key parties. A good Owner’s Rep will keep the lines of communication flowing and make sure all the questions are getting answered. And a great Owner’s Rep will anticipate questions and issues before they arise, giving everyone a chance to address them before they interfere with the progress of the project.

Conscientious architects and responsible contractors will be sensitive to your desired schedule. However, the longer your project is drawn out, the more fees and overhead they will tally, so again their best interests and yours are not necessarily aligned.

headacheHeadaches

The least tangible, but potentially most significant, value an Owner’s Rep can provide is stress reduction. In addition to time and money, construction projects require a great deal of attention to manage effectively. Even if you have the desire and energy to be actively involved in your project, it will inevitably become overwhelmingly stressful. An Owner’s Rep can simplify the process with their inherent knowledge and experience.

Many day-to-day decisions can be made by the Owner’s Rep without your involvement. This simplifies the process for the contractor and architect and takes the constant burden of timely response off of the owner. Bigger, more important decisions can be filtered out and presented clearly and appropriately when you are ready to consider them.