In a well-planned project, there should be no curve balls that haven’t been discussed, at the very least. Dry-rot, insect damage, code issues, whatever really. Anything that comes up should have been anticipated and discussed. So when these situations arise, the advice I have is, you better have considered them beforehand, and had a conversation with the client. I will have a conversation – hey this might happen and it it does it could cost X or Y. If a curveball comes up that I haven’t anticipated, I feel it’s pretty much my fault. I do my best to own all that.
As you can probably tell by now, I believe in the word “Trust” and or “Trusted”. Saying this, if the project team is aligned prior to project kick off and there is a common goal that everyone is striving for then a “curve ball” can be worked out. The team works together to handle situations either good and or challenging. It makes for a better team and a better project when it’s all done.
Rely on your team when curveballs arise. Try to get your team together early that way the Interior designer, engineer, architect, and GC will all be on the same page.
Set and have reasonable expectations on the front end; constant communication is essential.
Problems are inevitable in every project and they can have negative effects on budget and time. Oakbrook works in an ‘open book’ format with all of our clients so all decisions are made with full disclosure of these impacts. Sometimes it pays to spend more to make up lost time and sometimes not. With all the information available the Owner can make better decisions.
I dig into solution strategies immediately, and provide the clients with options to resolve the inevitable curve balls that will come up!
The best advice is to acknowledge problems as soon as you are aware of them, and then address them head on. Every project has something unexpected, but communication and friendly and respectful relations between employees, subcontractors, suppliers, and clients are the key to getting things done to everyone’s satisfaction.
Keep Budget and for large projects have spare income to spend if there is a problem.
A cheap bid may cause you problems why, he may have not included everything to just get the job.
Work order addendum form.
Sometimes things go wrong. The way OUR company handles these issues is we come up with a game plan. Whether plan check is delaying the start date, or your marble countertop broke during the delivery, we always make sure to handle everything as efficiently as possible in order to ensure quick bounce back. We handle things calmly and professionally and it works for us every single time.
Any project will have it’s chalenges, we will support our clients and hold their hands till the project is compeketed succefully.
Be ready to spend more money than what is expected. To be safe have an extra 25% put away just incase there is concealed work that comes up. Otherwise, you might have to give something up because there might be a huge issue that comes up once construction starts.
Homeowners can deal with curveballs in two key ways: First, factor 10 percent of labor for concealed conditions; Second, hire a contractor with related experience.
Always put everything in writing. People forget very quickly if it is not in writing.
We are in contact with the homeowner daily, whether they are babysitting the job or not. If an unwanted surprise comes up, such as rotted floors or joists, something that could not be seen when we estimated the job, we will photograph the ‘curveball’, show it to the owner, and make all changes in writing. Most curveballs are structural in nature, in our experience, but we are also extremely diligent for wood rot and mold, two no-nos.
Communicate with your contractor as much as possible during the project so there is no surprise.
Calmly and collectively! Curveballs can happen on the most communicative of job sites, we deal with them one at a time
just cut through them
Its normal to forecast issues. Weather is one of them; if its raining, no exterior work can be done. Or family emergencies. However, the key for curveballs is to act on them quickly and efficiently, because everyone wants to meet the goal of the remodel with good timing and satisfaction!
As long as we understand the pre-conceived idea of what the customer expects, there should be no curve balls, with the exception of unforeseen issues, such as termite damage, deteriorated or rotten wood, etc…