by John Stevens
February 18, 2011 7:59 AM
In today’s competitive and sometimes desperate economic climate, it can be difficult to find the right developer and design builder for your self storage construction project. Many are willing to cut deals, but you don’t want them to cut corners. And the bottom line shouldn’t be the only consideration in choosing a company. The repercussions to just focusing on cost can be serious, including poor service, time delays and hidden costs.
Every aspect of the project’s life cycle should be considered, from the vision of the client to the post project-completion period. It is optimal to get a commercial developer and design builder with a full-solution, end-to-end approach who also offers a single contact so you can oversee project control and accountability. When choosing a company, the experience and expertise it has in accomplishing a vision and setting realistic financial restraints, should be noticed. The following key points will help narrow down your search for the right developer and design builder:
• It’s important to hire a company that has a demonstrated track record of working in partnership with high caliber architects, engineers and subcontractors who see eye to eye and will deliver a high quality product.
• Ensure the developer and design/build firm you hire has direct experience formulating land-agreement documentation, and be sure to cover a variety of ‘what if’ scenarios as the paperwork is prepared.
• Choose a company that will work closely with the architect from the beginning to ensure the project is completed to specifications, is on time and is on budget.
• Remember an experienced and quality developer and design builder will partner with an engineering firm who has a good relationship with town officials and an in-depth understanding of state, county and local agency requirements.
• Choose a legal representative experienced with Land Use Law and who has an understanding of local and state-level laws and ordinances.
• The company you hire should have extensive experience working as a project manager and general contractor for commercial projects of similar size, scale, complexity and optimally within the self storage industry.
• The company you choose should have verifiable examples of how they solved problems while offering a protocol to minimize surprises and keep the client informed.
If these project life-cycle-based points are followed, your success at finding the right developer and design builder will likely be successful. It is important to be thorough and discerning as you search for the right company. They should be involved with the process from the start and have their hand in each stage of development through to post-completion in order to serve you fully. And don’t let the bottom line cost cloud your judgment.
Sources Used:
“Key Considerations for Hiring a Commercial Developer and Design Builder.” Inside Self-Storage. Feb. 17, 2011.
“How to Build a Mini-Storage Facility.” eHow.com. Feb. 2011.