We’ve been hearing from several of our contractors that clients are interesting in proceeding but concerned about changing guidance on whether they will get approval. Are you seeing this? If so, how are you handling?
I tell them to keep pushing forward. The building departments will reopen when it is safe and we have to wait. In this time, we can complete design, put out to bid. During bidding, we tend to find design mistakes or alternates. We can flush those out and give alternates. When they reopen, a lot of cities give you an option to expedite plans for additional fee. Try to focus on the positives of maybe solving design problems early to help out with time and cost later.
In our area. Construction is still moving forward. The City’s are closed but still open for business using online only. The City’s are taking in new plans, reviewing, issuing permits and doing inspections by appointment only.
Every project is unique to the COVID-19 situation. Most of my clients are outside the major country clubs and we can still move forward. Others are in major country clubs and the clubs are closed to construction at this time.
We are a Design Build Firm and I discuss with potential clients that we have lots to do before we even break ground on their project which is about the time needed to the COVID-19 to be on the recovery side of it. I do have a couple of clients that we were supposed to start in April postpone until the COVID-19 situation improves.
But all-in-all, we are just talking and being honest with everyone and helping them feel relaxed.
For our clients, open, honest and regular communication is key. We have shared updates regarding building permits and inspection as often as we receive them and have also reached out to our building departments to fill in any blanks for us. Clients are very understanding once they feel you are being honest with them. They want to move forward, but want stages to be thought out in case work does get stopped at some point with very little notice.