“The task of a leader is to get his people from where they are to where they have not been.”

Henry Kissinger

PRECONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT SERVICES

What is the preconstruction management process?

If you are building a custom home, or you are starting out with a major home renovation project, you should want to have a vision of what that process will look like prior to getting started.  The preconstruction management process bridges the gap between expectations and reality. 

Preconstruction management service agreements are less commonly used throughout the residential construction industry, but we firmly believe that it is the right way to differentiate ourselves from other industry professionals.  When a homeowner selects a contractor based on early estimates, they are cutting corners in the vetting, hiring, and overall construction process, widening the gap between customer expectations and reality. 

WHAT IS OUR PROCESS?

1. Construction drawings and building plans.

While we understand that you may initiate this process already having building plans and/or conceptual drawings, building plans require a comprehensive review to ensure compliance with the current edition of the Massachusetts State Building Code.  Often, design specifications need to be modified, or additional details are required for permit applications by local Building Departments.

2. Specification Documents.

Understanding and detailing your expectations begins with generating a specification document for the project which outlines the major components of the building according to the structural plans.  Various materials, manufacturers, and design standards not only require different installation requirements but also have varying costs.  Understanding the specific project requirements, both in terms of your wants and needs, is vital to driving the budgeting process.

3. Detailed project budgets.

Project budgets are directly linked to the scope of work, design requirements, and customer specifications.  Uninformed project estimates do not provide the necessary data for customers to make informed decisions regarding project budgets. The time invested during the preconstruction process helps protect your investment and ensures we minimize waste, both in terms of time and money, during the construction process by reducing the number of changes.

4. Project management and customer advocacy.

The permitting and approval process is daunting.  It requires patience, attention to detail, and effective communication with government entities.  Our experience provides us with the knowledge and ability to navigate this process in an efficient manner and establish early success with inspectors and approval authorities which dictate the success or failure of your project.  We represent you through this process to ensure that your project begins in the best light with the Town.

Building a home or significantly altering your existing one is one of the largest investments, both in terms of time and money, that you will ever make.  The decisions made during this process will be yours to live with for the foreseeable future.  We want you to feel confident in that decision-making process and live without regret when it comes to your home.  Our responsibility is to provide you with the data required to make informed decisions. 

HOW DOES THE PROCESS WORK?

1. Develop a relationship with you that is based on mutual trust.

We all assume risk during the construction process in terms of mutual dependency on effective communication and delivery of the specified terms that we accept from a decision-making and project execution perspective.

2. Assemble our trusted team of experts.

Every successful project requires a team of professionals dedicated to delivery superior quality work that exceeds customer expectations. These experts may include:

  • Engineers
  • Specialty subcontractors (Electricians, Plumbers, HVAC)
  • Local Experts (Wetland & Environmental Scientists, Architects)
  • Town/Public Officials (Inspectors, Board & Committee Members)
  • Vendors & Suppliers

3. Provide our professional experience.

This is where we share our knowledge and expertise that we have gathered from first-hand experiences on similar projects to assist you with the decision-making process.

4. Help with making your selections.

Our team of preconstruction managers and vendors assist you in making the best choices to design a home that exceeds your design vision and is built to last; eliminating your worries.

5. Create an initial budget.

We provide you with an initial project budget based on your goals during the sales process. Then we revise that budget based on your detail specification documents to deliver realistic cost expectations. This also becomes the itemized data sheet for you to use in making informed decisions that may require adjustments to the design or the overall scope of work.

6. Draft a construction schedule.

While flexibility is imperative during the construction process, an initial schedule provides clear expectations for when you can expect work to being, what impact it will have on your day-to-day, and when you can expect certain phases to be completed so that you can plan your lives accordingly.  The schedule also helps you understand when payments may be required to help ensure financial planning and accountability.

7. Finalize construction plans and documents.

After completion of this comprehensive review of your project, the selection process, and the draft scheduling, we can finalize your plans and prepare your applications for permitting and approval. This is the final step in generating a fixed-cost construction contract that allows us to begin the physical process of building your home.

This is our process which is based on experience and proven success.  We firmly believe this process is worth it in terms of solidifying a working relationship grounded in mutual trust, informed decision-making, and efficient execution of the construction process.  This process is provided at a fee which covers the time and resources required to ensure that you save money upon entering the construction process.  The timeline for this process can vary based on project complexity. 

WHY WE USE THIS PROCESS?

The preconstruction management process establishes realistic customer expectations.

Initial estimates are only ballpark figures that lack the detailed analytical and date perspectives necessary to provide detailed costs.  A preconstruction process allows for a more comprehensive exploration of these factors that drive project budgets and schedules. 

We also hope that this process solidifies trust through transparency.  It provides us with an opportunity to work collaboratively to establish realistic expectations and protect your investment.  We understand and respect the level of decision-making required through this daunting undertaking and want you to feel empowered rather than overwhelmed.

A preconstruction management process pulls together a team that is driven to exceed your expectations.

While our trusted team of tradespeople are dedicated and committed to their crafts, we work collaboratively with you to achieve success.  Our benchmark for success is based on your satisfaction through the entire construction process.  Our core values of transparency, integrity, and quality are firmly established during this preconstruction process and provide the foundation for this team to effectively overcome the inevitable challenges that are encountered throughout the project.

At Pioneer Builders, we take pride in differentiating ourselves from others within the residential construction industry by offering services that directly deliver value to you before, during, and after the construction process.  As we complete the preconstruction management process with you, we provide the knowledge and expertise necessary to help you make informed decisions and achieve your goals.  We also use this process to establish an initial working relationship with you to ensure that we have mutual compatibility for the construction process. 

“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”

Ralph Waldo Emerson