Monday, October 19, 2015

Description And Role Of Owners Rep

By Deana Norton


Project owners and developers rarely find enough time to be at construction sites throughout the life of a project. It is the owners rep who take up the place of developers or owners as projects take shape. The representative ensures that the interests of the owner are well represented. There are crucial responsibilities that come with this position and are intended to ensure successful completion.

The representative must be conversant with the jurisdiction where the project is being carried out. As such, he uses his knowledge and experience in the industry to watch over the entire construction process. A property owner or investor might have little or no knowledge of daily activities at a site. Most developers and investors do not have the time to watch over the work. This makes reps an important part of any project.

The representative is tasked with obtaining licenses and permits that will allow commencement of the project. To obtain these permits, he must know the local procedures and the offices where these permits and licenses are obtained. Such knowledge is important for planning purposes. Reliability requires knowledge of local policies and regulations to minimize the chances of rejection or delays due to conditions that are yet to be met.

It is paramount for representatives to be part of proposal evaluation committees. This is based on the fact that the rep will watch over the project through its life. Crucial among the important evaluation responsibilities is monitoring expenditure. He will ensure that budgetary limits are not exceeded. The cost of materials is kept within limits and labor matters are handled effectively. He also ensures that post construction services are delivered according to expectations.

Contractors and other partners in a project are a crucial part of the successful completion of any project. Representatives are tasked with conducting background checks to verify all information provided in tender documents. Conducting due-diligence on contractors may also involve visiting their physical addresses and verifying their financial statements with banks and other institutions. Representatives are also required to visit sites where these contractors have active projects or have successfully completed a project.

The responsibility to monitor the daily progress any project lies with the assigned representative. Monitoring involves evaluation of the performance of other service providers who are minor players in the construction process. This is his primary and most important role. Since he understands the standards set at the beginning of the process, he must ensure that all the rules and regulations are adhered to.

Regulators set conditions to be adhered to at all construction sites. It is the responsibility of owner reps to ensure that these conditions are met. The conditions regard the safety of personnel and equipment at the site. In case officials from any regulatory or inspection department visit a project, it is the rep to show them around and provide any answers that may be demanded.

Owner reps are responsible for relationship management for any project. They act as the link between developers, owners, suppliers and contractors. They are charged with organizing meetings whenever the need arises to ensure that everything runs smoothly. An experienced civil engineer or a graduate of building economics would fit the role perfectly.




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