Establishing Your Project Team
A construction project team includes the client, their architect and the general contractor. If you haven’t chosen an architect or designer, and your project warrants one, we can offer suggestions based on the size, style and complexity of your project. Establishing this team early in the process allows for goal setting and clear communication between all parties right from the start. Having the team meet periodically to discuss the evolution of the project during the pre-construction phase ensures a smoother project during the construction phase.
We will put together an Allen Associates team with an excellent combination of skills – construction expertise, knowledge of green building resources and project management. Once construction begins, a Contract Administrator will be added to the team to handle all paper work, prepare contracts, invoices and other administrative functions for your project.
Identifying Your Needs During Construction
During a remodel there are many things to consider including: will you be living in the home during the project; how much do you want to spend; do you have a deadline for finishing the project; and, how would you like to get updates on the project – by email, phone or face- to- face meetings. To best serve you, we need to know what is most important to you and then respond to that continually throughout the project.
Clear Communication
Building projects are only as successful as the communication between all the players. We work to achieve early, frequent, and clear communication. As managers of the communication process, we set up regular weekly or more frequent meetings, put all key decisions in email or other written form, establish a production schedule with regular up dates, and try to respond to client/architect phone calls, text messages, or emails within hours (except on weekends unless it is an emergency).
Completing Your Project On-Budget and On-Time
Our prices are competitive. We have extensive experience in value engineering – the process of looking at a set of plans and suggesting ways to realize your project within your budget. Together we will agree on a budget for your remodel at the beginning of the project. During design and construction, we will keep you informed relative to your budget and will clearly communicate any changes that will affect your budget well ahead of time.
We provide our clients with a project schedule at the beginning of the project as well as up-dates every other week. Our team is known throughout Santa Barbara for completing projects ahead of schedule.