- Coordination with fabricators.
- Occasionally, the contractor may discover an issue that was not previously known (like an obstruction underground). When this occurs, it may be necessary to alter the CD’s to accommodate those conditions. These changes are called “revisions”. They result in change orders from the contractor that can be accepted or rejected as desired by the owner.
- Construction observation is often billed as a separate item, or an “additional service” depending on your design professionals. Construction observation is a critical aspect of ensuring that the construction work is being performed in accordance with the design intent. Clients occasionally try to cut costs by deciding not to pay their design professionals for this service. I once had the occasion to point out to a contractor that the walkway in an apartment complex was being installed in exactly the wrong alignment – the most unbelievable things can happen, and your design team is ready to represent the owner’s interests. A friend of mine once observed a contractor installing plants without bothering to take them out of their containers. Clients who choose to observe the construction themselves need to be prepared to deal with the ridiculous.
- Periodic site meetings with contractor and/or client during construction.
- Develop punch lists and perform walk-throughs with client and contractor to identify anything that is unsatisfactory. Final payments to the contractor are not made until the project is satisfactorily completed!
- I recommend having requests for payment reviewed by your design professionals, they are there to act as the owner’s representative and ensure that the owner is paying for work that has been performed properly.
Post Construction:
- Review client satisfaction.
- Coordinate with gardener or homeowner to develop a maintenance program or garden notebook, guide, as-built drawings.
- Address any problems that come up with use – ongoing basis.
