In commercial construction, decisions made before a shovel hits the ground have the greatest impact on project outcomes. Pre-construction services — the planning and analysis work that happens before formal construction begins — are where the most valuable cost savings and risk mitigation occur.

Budget Validation

One of the primary functions of pre-construction is validating the project budget against actual market conditions. Design drawings often precede pricing by months, and material and labor costs fluctuate. A contractor engaged during pre-construction can identify budget gaps early, when design changes are still inexpensive to make.

Constructability Review

Architects design for function and aesthetics; contractors build for constructability. Pre-construction review allows the GC to identify elements of the design that may be difficult, expensive, or code-problematic to build — and to suggest practical alternatives before the drawings are finalized.

Schedule Development

Realistic construction schedules require input from those who will actually perform the work. Early contractor involvement allows for accurate schedule development, including long-lead procurement of specialty materials and equipment.

Value Engineering

Value engineering is the process of achieving the design intent at a lower cost through alternative materials, methods, or sequencing. This analysis is only meaningful during pre-construction — once a project is under contract and underway, the window for value engineering has largely closed.

Engaging United Contracting Group during pre-construction is one of the smartest investments our clients make. Contact our team to learn more.