General Contractor, Joe Achille: 412-292-1628
ACHILLE CONSTRUCTION LLC
COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL BUILDING SOLUTIONS
Why Choose Our Residential Services
Every now and then, homeowners are compelled to make certain home improvements in order to give their house a much needed makeover and an updated look. In some cases, home remodeling is also done for the purpose of increasing a property’s overall value. However, regardless of the specific reasons for making renovations and the need for home repair, it’s always important to be prepared before tackling any type of home improvement project.
Lack of preparation can lead to certain mistakes you’ll want to avoid at all costs. In the most extreme scenarios, it’s possible for people to lose their homes or wind up paying a significant amount of money to correct incomplete renovations. So before jumping in with your eyes closed and waking up to an absolute nightmare, try being prepared and consult with a professional who knows about the undertakings involved with home remodeling, new home construction and home repair jobs.
The Importance of Hiring Home Improvement Contractor:
There are an assortment of projects, both large scale and small scale, involved with doing home improvements. The following are some popular examples of home remodeling projects that people implement within their homes:
Room additions – sunrooms, bedrooms etc.
Basement finish / remodel
Updating fixtures – cabinets, sinks, kitchen and bathroom fixtures
Wallpapering painting walls
Installing new flooring – hardwood, carpet, marble, tile etc.
Plumbing and electrical home repair
Unless you work as a home contractor for a living, it’s probably not a good idea to handle the task of home remodeling on your own. Although some people may be handy around the house and are capable of fixing basic home repairs, taking on the entire house for home improvement purposes is a completely different situation that needs to be taken into account. Therefore, the best way to ensure that your home improvement projects will be done professionally is to seek the services provided by a qualified home contractor, Joe Achille owner of Achille Construction Company.
Aspects of Home Remodeling
One of the major aspects involved with home remodeling is the ability to take very accurate measurements of all the materials you will need, as well as being able to order the right products and supplies. Unfortunately, any mistakes made at this stage in the process can end up costing you later on down the line. This is why many people choose to leave this task in the capable hands of an experienced home improvement contractor. It’s also a good idea to inform your neighbors about your home improvement plans. This is especially true if your home remodeling projects involve work on the exterior of the home.
Asking questions is another important part of the home remodeling process. Any home contractor who is unwilling to answer your questions and verbally simplify the process for you should be avoided altogether. In fact, asking questions is considered to be a normal and necessary part of the construction and contracting planning process, and is actually encouraged by most reputable home improvement contractors. The bottom line is that getting answers to questions helps to prevent any misunderstandings for both parties regarding the costs and deadlines involved with the home remodeling project.
While there many individuals who are capable of carrying out basic home improvement and home repair projects, they should still hire a home contractor to certify that their home improvement plans are in fact sound. So whether you want to modernize your home for the purpose of turning over a higher resale value, or just wish to enjoy the home improvement updates with your family for the years to come, remember it is important to get the job done right the first time. Hiring a home contractor can not only help you avoid making costly mistakes, but can also leave you with the home you’ve always dreamed of having!
Any business owner or facility manager knows that there are considerably more steps that go into building or renovating a commercial structure than there are for residential construction projects. The complexities of commercial construction typically make it untenable for a project owner to coordinate every aspect and serve as their own general contractor and project manager.
Working with a full-service construction firm has many benefits, not the least of which is cost savings. Here, we’ll outline a definition of what it means to be a full-service commercial construction company followed by why it might be in your best interest to use their services.
What is a Full-Service Commercial Construction Company?
The term “full service” can mean different things to different people, so it’s important to compare services when vetting various firms. From our perspective at The Samuels Group, a full-service construction firm should be able to manage a project from start to furnish.
Here are some examples of services that a comprehensive commercial construction company can provide:
Construction Management: Overall management through all phases of a project. This includes planning, budgeting, scheduling, phasing, bid packaging, securing subcontractors and vendors, risk management, and oversight of day-to-day operations during construction, etc.
Project planning services: Needs assessment, feasibility studies, scoping, budgeting, and master planning.
Pre-construction services: Cash-flow analysis, logistics planning, cost estimating, subcontractor pre-qualification and selection, land acquisition assistance, etc.
Pre-referendum services (for public projects): stakeholder interviews, funding analysis, estimating, developing communication plans and materials, assisting with the referendum process, holding community meetings, etc.
Architectural Design: Concepting, budgeting, LEED assessment, zoning and compliance review, schematic design, design development, and construction documents, etc.
Commercial Furniture Solutions: Interior design, space planning, ADA compliance, commercial furnishings, finishes, equipment, installation, etc.
When a construction firm develops a bid package, they may also participate in the bidding process. For this reason, some commercial construction companies self-perform work, meaning they also provide general contracting services.
7 Benefits of a Full-Service Construction Company
1. Project Efficiencies and Time Savings
One of the most notable benefits of a comprehensive approach to construction is that everyone works as a cohesive team and is focused on the larger picture, not just their individual tasks. When the architect has a collaborative relationship with the project manager and furnishings team, potential issues get caught early and can be addressed before they become bigger problems.
A project owner’s time is valuable, too. There are many moving parts in commercial construction and keeping them all straight is a full-time job in itself. Relying on a construction partner that can holistically manage every aspect eliminates the inefficiencies of dealing with multiple companies.
2. Better Communication
Having every team’s eyes on a project from its inception fosters transparent communication and a symbiotic approach to construction with less chance of oversights.
In addition to better alignment among its own team members, there’s also streamlined communication and alignment with the project owner. That’s because the project owner is part of the team and participates in planning meetings and status updates, able to get answers practically in real time.
3. Greater Accountability
Since all parties are part of one team and work is controlled by the construction manager, they can keep a tighter rein on the work being performed. There’s also less chance of conflicts or adversarial relationships. If an issue needs to be resolved, there isn’t another company or stakeholder to point fingers at. The construction firm alone is accountable and needs to find a way to resolve any issues.
4. More Accurate Scheduling
One of the best ways to control costs is to ensure a project stays on schedule. Full-service contractors are more aware of their team’s availability and can keep them on schedule more easily. If there is a delay, they’re more able to get things back on track because of their vast network and relationships with other team members.
5. Flexibility
As a project progresses, it’s not unusual for a project owner to want to make tweaks and changes. The holistic nature of full-service construction management helps to identify potential changes early in the process when it will have less of an impact on the schedule and budget. The further along in the process those changes are made, the more expensive and disruptive they will be. If change orders need to be made, the entire team is there to address them quickly.
6. Cost Savings
There are cost advantages to having a single source for planning, designing, constructing, and furnishing a new facility or renovation. Keeping a project on schedule has inherent cost savings, but it goes further than that. From the start, there is a clear plan and strategy for the entire project so that a project owner can make informed decisions on where to spend their dollars. With everyone at the table, all parties can work together to develop estimates, find cost savings, and minimize scope creep. A true construction partner may even be able to assist with securing funding.
7. Reduced Stress
All these factors combined lead to a less stressful experience for the project owner, which has a value all its own. When fewer things go wrong and communication flows, the building process can actually be an enjoyable experience for the project owner from start to finish.
Special Considerations for Furnishings
As noted, various construction companies will have their own definitions of “full-service,” and many do not consider furniture as part of their offerings. However, it can’t be stressed enough how beneficial it is to include commercial furnishings as part of the initial planning process. When furnishings, fixtures, and equipment are treated as afterthoughts, they will likely not be budgeted for properly and project owners will have to make compromises on what they envisioned the finished product would look like.
Working with a furnishings specialist in the planning phase can also bring additional savings in ways one might not expect. Proper layout of furnishings helps to inform how a building’s floor plan should be configured for maximum functionality and may even save on square footage. A commercial furnishings expert might recommend a furnishings solution that takes the place of permanent walls or cabinetry, creating a flexible workspace that allows for future expansion or reconfiguration without having to do demolition. Furniture placement and selection also help to determine where electrical drops, outlets, and data ports need to be installed.
Another consideration is including furniture and fixtures procurement and installation in the schedule to avoid delays. Lead times for commercial furnishings can vary widely, especially for healthcare, detention facilities, and other specialty industries. Imagine how disheartening and frustrating it would be to have a completed structure that can’t be occupied because you’re waiting for furniture.
Commercial and Residential Building Solutions Services
Why Choose our Commercial Services
