Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Do You Need An Owners Rep In A Construction Site?

By Deana Norton


It is impossible for a project owner to be present at a site throughout the construction period. This makes it necessary to hire owners rep. The person represents the interests of such an owner during the construction period. The position comes with a number of responsibilities that are crucial in the successful completion of any project.

A reliable representative understands and is thoroughly knowledgeable about the jurisdiction administering the area where a project is based. This knowledge and experience are crucial during administration of any project. He acts as the eye and ear of the developer or owner regarding daily activities at the site.

The representative is tasked with obtaining licenses and permits that will allow commencement of the project. To obtain these permits, he must know the local procedures and the offices where these permits and licenses are obtained. Such knowledge is important for planning purposes. Reliability requires knowledge of local policies and regulations to minimize the chances of rejection or delays due to conditions that are yet to be met.

It is paramount for representatives to be part of proposal evaluation committees. This is based on the fact that the rep will watch over the project through its life. Crucial among the important evaluation responsibilities is monitoring expenditure. He will ensure that budgetary limits are not exceeded. The cost of materials is kept within limits and labor matters are handled effectively. He also ensures that post construction services are delivered according to expectations.

Due-diligence when engaging contractors ensures that you deal with credible firms. This role is left to representatives. They conduct a background check to establish whether the information given in tender documents is true. A representative may be required to visit the office of these contractors, check financial details from relevant institutions as well as visit projects where they have been working. This ensures that all persons involved in a project deliver according to expectations.

It is the work of representatives to monitor daily activities and progress at a contraction site. Monitoring requires the representative to push contractors in to delivering according to conditions set in the agreements. To fulfill this mandate, the representative must know the conditions set in the contract. They will be used to determine whether contractors are faithful to these requirements.

Regulators set conditions to be adhered to at all construction sites. It is the responsibility of owner reps to ensure that these conditions are met. The conditions regard the safety of personnel and equipment at the site. In case officials from any regulatory or inspection department visit a project, it is the rep to show them around and provide any answers that may be demanded.

Owner reps are responsible for relationship management for any project. They act as the link between developers, owners, suppliers and contractors. They are charged with organizing meetings whenever the need arises to ensure that everything runs smoothly. An experienced civil engineer or a graduate of building economics would fit the role perfectly.




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