Later, Dude

“By Others” /”By Owner”/”Verify” - phrases that drive contractors nuts!

“I’ll check”.  “I’ll get back to you”.  “I’m not sure.”  “Haven’t decided yet.” These responses from owners/operators to the design team, create chaos. And you, the owner/operator, will pay handsomely for your procrastination.  

General Contractors and their sub-contractors build based on the information provided on the construction documents – the drawings and specifications prepared by your design team. If information is missing, they have a few options. They can ask for the missing info (issue an RFI – Request for Information), assume (always a bad idea) or leave it out (another bad idea).  Most construction schedules are tight. Drawings are rushed and deadlines or opening dates are looming.

Be proactive and save everyone time and money.  The most common unknowns involve equipment provide by the owner or his vendors – water filtration/conditioning, chemical dispensers, fat removal systems, ice machines, dish machines, soda systems, coffee equipment, specialty equipment – pasta machines, exotic table top equipment, etc.  Get this information from your suppliers and give it to your design team. They are eager to get this information to you as it gives them the inside track to providing this equipment and being awarded the service contract.  

You should not rely on generic specifications.  Most of these vendor-supplied items are available in a variety of sizes, options and accessories.  Knowing the correct specifications for the equipment they will provide is essential for your design team to fit them into or on millwork or custom fabricated counters. Utility configurations – water, drains, electrical requirements – must be communicated to your design team to size and locate these items and call out correct receptacles.

On the other side, don’t allow your design team to put these disclaimers on their drawings. Make it clear that your design team needs to ask for this information and not release their drawings until they get the needed answers.

Once you are under construction, you may still have time to provide this information to the General Contractor and his sub-contractors, but you may be hit with Change Orders for additional work or revisions to existing work.  It is worth delaying the issuing of drawings for construction until these open items are addressed and clarified.