What is an Owners Representative?
Construction projects are full of industry terms and acronyms. An Owners Representative (Owners Rep) is a term that means exactly what it sounds like it should mean. An Owners Representative is someone who acts as a representative for the owner of a construction project. However, that is probably not nearly enough information to describe how O.Rep.Solutions (ORS) can help you.
What is an Owner’s Representative?
An Owners Representative, (Owners Rep), is a 3rd party hired by the Owner to represent their best interests. This includes anything from a few hours for some valuable insight, representation for part(s) of a project or throughout an entire project. This includes site selection, design, entitlements, permitting, and/or construction support.
ORS is an extension of the owner and solely represents your interests independent of the design professionals and contractors.
As an owner you have a team of experts that includes the realtors, attorneys, financial institutions, engineers, architects, testing agencies, contractors, and other vendors. Someone needs to orchestrate all that communication and drive the project.
Our singular purpose is to ensure the Owners Interest throughout every stage of the construction project is paramount.
How many times have you worked on a project that went “OK”, or when the project was completed, “it left a bad taste in your mouth”, or left you wondering, “Was there a better way”?
It all comes down to managing resources, time, and money. Having an Owners Rep allows an owner to appropriately invest and manage their time.
By understanding the entire project from planning to execution, ORS serves a broader role as the conduit between the owners organization, designers, constructors to help you successfully manage your project.
Managing a project can be challenging. Approaching it with a structured plan and process will help you handle whatever issues arise.
Some owners are not comfortable with the building processes, which is not surprising since building owners and company owners do not design and build every day. Owner’s often excel in their specialized service or product.
Projects can encounter issues due to a lack of clearly defined owner objectives.
Without the time, knowledge and experience to “Drive The Project” and "Orchestrate Communication", some owners can be easily overwhelmed by the demands and expertise that is required to ensure a successful project.
So what does driving the project mean?
Nothing is more frustrating than losing time because a team member states, “I sent that question or request to someone last week… I am waiting for an answer.”
When it is time for the next project meeting, you discover the question is still unanswered because it lacked clarity and necessary details, needed input from a third party, no time frame was given for an answer, or there was no follow-up.
Now, your project is at a standstill. The owner has lost precious and usually expensive time on their project schedule. ORS is the intermediary for critical communication.
Communications is a core competency that, when properly executed, connects every member of a project team to a common set of strategies, goals, and actions. Unless these components are effectively shared by project leads and understood by stakeholders, project outcomes are jeopardized, and budgets incur unnecessary risk.
By “Driving Proper Communication,” ORS will:
Keep the project team on schedule.
Identify scope gaps with the program and/or design team early so change orders and omissions are minimized.
Monitor the schedule on a weekly basis.
ORS will ensure the project “look ahead schedule” is maintained so that if unexpected critical milestones are in jeopardy, we can find solutions to keep your project on track.
It is not unusual for obstacles to arise during construction. ORS will be out in front of any challenges by developing strategic solutions and resolutions before they impact the project and the owner.
ORS will assist you in selecting a team that will work together. ORS can curtail issues that arise with even the best teams.
Whether dealing with cost overruns or difficult contractors, ORS will stay impartial and provide necessary unbiased information allowing owners to make educated decisions.