Toronto Renovation Blog | Oriel Renovations

How to Avoid a Renovation Nightmare in Toronto

Written by Raphael Lopoukhine | Apr 10, 2024 4:00:00 AM

How the Pre-Construction Process Can Help You Avoid a Renovation Nightmare

What is a Pre-construction Process?

Pre-construction is a paid collaborative planning process that ensures a homeowner’s investment goals and project priorities are well understood by the contractor and design team.

It is an opportunity to explore all of the options for executing the project’s design plans, to find cost efficiencies, and to engage with all trade partners to identify any unknowns before the project begins. This reduces the risk of surprises, cost increases or delays during construction. The result of the process is an accurate fixed quote and reliable timeline based on a well defined scope of work.

There are four phases in a Pre-construction Process:

  • Gathering project information
  • Aligning the project scope with investment goals
  • Refining the design through value engineering, and
  • Finalizing costs and scope with the contractor and trade partners

How is Pre-Construction different from a Free Estimate?

A free estimate with allowances and contingencies can result in incorrect assumptions or design details and site conditions not being properly captured in the scope of work. This will often result in surprises, scope creep and escalating costs.

Partnering with a contractor who employs a collaborative Pre-Construction process allows the contractor to dedicate the time and resources necessary to fully consider your unique project and all relevant elements. This ensures that your vision is properly understood and planned from the outset; that what is promised at the beginning (cost, schedule, scope of work, service and communication) will carry through to the end.