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Understanding Pre-Construction Planning

Every development and construction project starts with an idea. That idea grows from the ground up until a final product is achieved, be it a building, residence or some other structure. As a general contractor in West Palm Beach, our goal is turn this idea into a reality on time and on budget for every one of our clients.

We have found that the most efficient strategy for completing high-quality work is to do the proper planning before breaking ground. This pre-construction planning phase helps produce a strong foundation for the entirety of the project. In this post, we’ll examine the specifics of the pre-construction planning process. Let’s get started!

What is Pre-Construction Planning?

Pre-construction planning is a preliminary form of strategizing perfomed before a job begins. The goal of preconstruction planning is to build or understand the full scope of a project and its requirements. This phase typically includes project definition, potential issue identification, scheduling, milestones, scope, cost estimation, and an overall needs analysis.

Upon a client and general contractor agreeing to move forward on a project, the contractor will then present the project outline, cost breakdown, and anticipated scheduled completion date.

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Steps Involved in Preconstruction Planning

While multiple steps and multiple parties are generally involved in the preconstruction planning process, we can break this phase down to three simple steps. Those steps are:

  • Project Scope: The scope of work can be as detailed as necessary and outlines exactly what the construction crew will be doing, the anticipated outcome, and how long it will to take to complete.
  • Budget: An initial budget limit must be determined to better understand the financial confines of a project. An appropriate plan will also include details about how the final amount was chosen, what it reflects, and what comparable costs might be.
  • Schedule: A schedule for the project is absolutely necessary. This will help determine the progress of a project and when milestones throughout the construction process are expected to be met.

Overview of What Preconstruction Planning Should Involve

It is easy to get bogged down in the preconstruction process; in fact, the more time spent in this phase, ironically, the construction schedule themselves suffer greatly. To prevent this, planning must be efficient in mapping out a route for the project without getting caught up in the particulars. Here’s what a proper preconstruction planning should look like:

  • Meeting between all parties involved to get a precise understanding of the project. Explore demands and interests to help anticipate future changes may be requested
  • Develop an initial design by visiting the project site, choosing materials, and developing a loose plan.
  • Assess requirements, scope, cost estimates, and engineering to leave no stone unturned
  • Build out a sheet that includes third parties and subcontractors to better understand who oversees what and when things will be delivered. This is also the time in which to pre-plan contingencies in case one of the parties fails to deliver
  • Create a schedule that details milestones and sets goals for the team.
  • Understand that planning is truly never over and is a continued effort throughout the scope of the project

Benefits of Preconstruction Planning

For starters, effective planning always results in higher-quality work that meets the requirements of a project, including budget, time and resource constraints. It is nearly impossible to achieve any milestones promptly without first identifying how realistic they are. Pre-planning also helps everyone involved understand the feasibility of a project and its cost requirements. Ideas presented during the initial planning may seem reasonable to one or more parties, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are feasible. Furthermore, something planned or suggested may need modification as a result of budget constraints. Maybe something is just going to cost too much to do, so an alternative is necessary.

Taylor Builders: Ground Up General Contractor in South Florida

Taylor Builders is your one-stop-shop when it comes to ground up construction in South Florida. We are the area’s top general contractor that works alongside our clients from ideation to completion. We specialize in commercial construction in South Florida as well as residential construction in South Florida. Contact us today to learn more about our service offerings and preconstruction planning.

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