By Nick Ainis
Fusioncorp Developments
When people shop for pre-construction homes and condos in the Greater Toronto Area, they most wisely research builders and developers to determine their track records for success.
But how many, I wonder, ask about the construction professionals who transform a developer’s vision into reality? Large developers may rely on in-house resources, but many smaller developers contract out the construction aspects of the process to a construction management company.
Construction is the one of the most critical components in the development process and quality is an essential component of success, not to mention purchaser satisfaction; the goal should be to create a “wow” response when purchasers arrive to inspect their units at PDI time and correct any perceived deficiencies in a timely manner. So, knowing who is really in charge of the construction process is a question that should be asked by every new home purchaser.
Track record
The track record of a construction management firm should be examined. In turn, construction managers must consider the success rates of the developers who approach them for work. It is a two-way street, because in the construction industry, relationships and reputations are everything. This scenario bodes well for new home buyers, who benefit from this conscientiousness.
Many construction management firms, including ours, have input into the new multi-residential building process from conception and design to project closeout. We oversee the logistics of the project using standards of best practices, delivering on core construction management principles: On time, on budget, on quality and in a safe and functional manner.
Having a qualified construction management company is a major pathway to success of any project. Developers look for construction managers that have combined education and experience to interact with everyone on the project team, from the workers and tradespeople to the consultants and engineers that are also so vital to the projects success. I personally appreciate the trust developers place in us to literally control the project while keeping the project on track but in a transparent and ethical manner and communicating with our clients along the way, keeping them apprised of all the issues that come with the challenging construction process.
Special skills
Our team’s primary focus is to support site activities, work closely with owners, architects, engineers and other construction consultants to provide seamless on-site integration between all stages of the construction process.
Even commercial construction require a special skill in ensuring quality and timely completions from various specializations including retail, medical, restaurants, to office facilities; involving several different elements; logistics, materials, sub-contractors, all of which must be coordinated to realize success.
Here are a few questions every potential new-home buyer should ask their sales representative:
- Is the developer a Tarion registered vendor-builder? If the developer is a vendor only, then likely it has employed a Tarion registered builder (construction manager).
- It is important to research the entire development team including the construction management firm that will be the registered builder for the project.
- How long has their construction management firm been in business?
- What projects have they completed? How many completed units under Tarion?
- Does that company employ a diverse group of competent professionals from different specialties? Ask specifics about the team.
- Check the Tarion record for conciliations and look for construction firms with zero conciliations.
- When you ask these questions, does the developer representative answer them appropriately? They need to have genuine knowledge about their builder.
Deadlines and standards
As the construction manager, we and similar firms work with all the parties involved to deliver homes and condos on time and to the standards the clients and purchasers are expecting. A home or condo is likely the biggest financial investment most people will ever make, and they want to ensure they get what they deserve, which is a beautiful and well-built structure called home.
Remember, beauty is only skin deep. So do your homework and explore everything, including who is really building our new homes, and who is truly overseeing the construction process.
The author of Building Toronto’s Skyline: Toronto Condominiums Through the Decades, Nick Ainis is Founder and CEO of Fusioncorp Developments, a boutique construction management company and general contracting organization specializing in multi-unit residential condominiums. fusioncorp.ca.
