Owner’s Representative

Owner’s Rep: What, Why, When

Building a new facility is a complicated process. There are always more things to consider than originally planned. Every decision has a price tag and a timeline attached to it. Even a significant facility remodel can be very involved.

The big question is, do you know every aspect of the building process inside and out? As a building owner or corporate facilities manager, the answer is likely no.

Most clients know more about certain stages of erecting a building than others. This is normal because most people have not been intimately involved from beginning to end in many building projects. Every building project is unique. Each site has different challenges, objectives, and local regulations associated with it.

Large-scale projects are only commonplace for a few professionals. Fortunately, DexKo Construction Services offers Owner's Representative services. Give yourself the advantage of our experience and knowledge.


What is an Owner’s Representative?

The owner’s rep is a construction project "ringer" for your team. The owner’s representative is a third-party advisor who makes sure your vision becomes reality.

Here are just a few ways that the owner's representative assists the building owner in achieving optimal success in their building project:

Your Goals, Your Vision, Their Focus

Throughout the project, you will be working with numerous contractors and subcontractors. Each company involved in the project is focused on their objective. The owner’s representative is the only one who focuses on your goals above anything else.

Communication Central

Every contractor will have questions and updates that they wish to communicate at some point. All of those emails, phone calls, and meetings can be quite overwhelming.

The owner’s representative becomes a central point of communication for all the subcontractors. Everyone involved with the job site can pass information on to the owner's rep. Your trusted representative delivers the information to you in an efficient and organized way. This keeps you informed without drowning in information.

Construction Budget and Schedule

An experienced owner's representative has the power of insight and foresight. They know when a project is not running on time or within budget. By identifying some of those indicators early on, steps can be taken to increase efficiency and lower costs.

Additionally, your advisor will know what areas can be adjusted to complete the project without affecting the outcome. Depending on the size of the project, an owner's rep can save the building owner millions of dollars with no loss of quality or square footage.

Tough Decisions

As mentioned earlier, unexpected challenges are common in construction projects. When a problem arises, decisions need to be made. At times, the right decision may not be obvious. An experienced construction professional can often help explain your options and make those tough decisions a little clearer.


When Should an Owner’s Representative be Consulted?

The owner’s rep is an expert in the construction process. They can help you with everything from the beginning stages of design and function to wrapping up the project.

The most accurate answer to when you can hire a professional advocate is at any point in the process. However, having an expert on your side from the beginning will increase your odds of enjoying your facility beyond what you originally anticipated.

Another benefit to hiring an owner’s representative early on is they can have a more significant impact on your project’s budget. Your construction professional can advise you on materials that save money and/or boost your facility's energy efficiency and aesthetics.

Every component of your new facility has a cost-to-benefit ratio. The owner's representative will keep your goals in mind when making suggestions.

It is wise to have a third party evaluate the materials and processes being used for your project. This keeps the building owner up to date and gives them peace of mind that their interests are being prioritized.

A FEW WAYS YOUR BUIDLING CAN BETTER SERVE YOU:

·         Energy Efficiency

o   Smart Building Tech

·         Traffic Flow

·         Natural Lighting

·         Acoustic Design

o   Minimizing noise pollution

o   Privacy

·         Adaptive Spaces

o   Movable walls and Office Furniture


Why Hire An Owner’s Rep?

Remember, you are not only hiring an industry expert, but you are also gaining their network as well.

A few reasons a building owner or facilities manager would want to hire an owner’s rep have been covered already. However, there are a few major benefits that have not been mentioned as of yet. Working with a seasoned professional who has your interests in mind is like getting an "Easy Button" for your project.

This is not to say that complications will not arise. Every building project has unexpected developments. But when a challenge arises, you will have an advocate to help you through it. Here are some examples of how an owner’s rep can make your project more successful.

Informed Decision Making

Through each phase of the building project, you have decisions to make. Sometimes the right answer is obvious. Yet, in some cases, there is no right answer. You could be faced with two excellent options or a few less-than-desirable options.

The short-term consequences may be obvious, but what about the long-term benefits? A good owner’s representative will have special insight into some of the difficult calls that will inevitably need to be made. If the owner’s rep is unsure about the best path forward, they will have strategic relationships they can leverage for the best possible outcome.  

Remember, your industry expert comes with valuable connections.

Steadfast Ally

The owner’s representative is on your side. They are looking out for your best interests with every contractor. You will save time, money, and headaches in areas you never knew were a problem. This is because your rep is an active partner in the process. They don’t wait for the building owner to ask questions. They seek out ways to improve workflow and efficiency.

Enhanced Communication

Erecting a commercial facility involves many different trades. Each trade has its labor force and its own set of questions and concerns. It can be too much information to take in and retain, especially when we factor in scheduling.

 Imagine how full your inbox would be if you had to field requests from the following trades.

·         Masonry 

·         Electricians

·         Plumbers

·         Framers

·         Drywallers  

·         Flooring Installation

·         HVAC

·         Glass, Signage, Landscapers, Vendors, Etc.…

An owner’s representative acts as a hub for all outside communication related to the job. No longer does the building owner need to sift through a bunch of menial messages that could wait.  The owner's rep is a single point of contact who delivers critical information in a way that is easy to understand.

Savings: Time & Money

These points have been mentioned earlier in this article. We won’t expand on it too much, but it cannot be overstated. DexKo Construction Services has saved a single client millions of dollars on a single project.

As mentioned before, construction projects are complicated. Even If a facilities director has done their homework on material pricing and labor rate, unexpected complications come into play. There may be more than one viable option to address the problem. Your representative can help you weigh the cost-to-benefit ratios on those options.

Also, the costs to address unexpected concerns don't come with a standard price tag. Margin can be added by a contractor in any number of ways. Margin is necessary for any business, but the owner's rep will help keep all that in check.

Risk Mitigation & Peace of Mind

Jobsite Safety

Every contractor has their own safety standards. Or more accurately, their ideals for which safety measures they will choose to, and not to follow. This is also true of general contractors. If you wish to set a high safety standard on your site, your owner's rep can help implement and enforce those standards and processes.

Price Gouging

Unfortunately, this happens far too often. Sometimes it is not intentional. Perhaps the contractor is unfamiliar with a more efficient method. Maybe the estimator is a bit green and over-calculated on time and materials.

Whether a high quote is intentional or not, it still affects the building owner. A seasoned construction professional will help you avoid those unnecessary costs.

 Craftsmanship

Sometimes progress looks amazing, and everything seems to run smoothly. Yet, the details can be off. It is easy to cut corners if the client is not familiar with the process.

On the other hand, a contractor can follow the blueprints exactly, and it can still be wrong. Why? Because architects, like the rest of us, are not flawless. What looks good on paper may not translate functionally to the physical structure. The owner's representative understands the blueprints and what should be done at every stage. You don't have to hope that the work is being done properly. You can have the peace of mind that an expert is supervising the craftsmanship of your building.


DexKo Construction Services suggests working with an owner's rep from the pre-design phase to the ribbon cutting. However, if you are midway through a project and want a representative, that is also an option. Our team is available for you. We will advocate for you in every aspect of your commercial construction project.

We want you to have a good construction experience. You deserve the peace of mind that comes with a construction advocate. Plus, if you can save time and money while making certain you get the quality you were promised, an owner's representative is an obvious choice.

Contact us today to discuss your specific situation.