THE FOUNDATION OF CONSTRUCTION: PRE-CONSTRUCTION PHASE
By Claire Cowser
NOVEMBER 24, 2019
[COMPANY NAME]
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Abstract:
This essay overviews the pre-construction process, a vital part of the construction process that
often does not get enough credit. This phase includes acquiring land, finding a suitable project
manager/contractor, the planning stage, the design and engineering stage, procuring materials,
permitting and entitlements, and cost estimation. The process can extend from two weeks to
twelve weeks, but remains crucial, as the outcome results in a given scope, schedule, and cost
estimate. It is vital for the client to have an understanding of these as it gives the feasibility of the
project and whether or not the project moves forward. In this paper, examples such as the design
of a typical house and The Burj Khalifa are used to give context to the range of complexity of the
preconstruction phase. Another example such as the cost estimate of an apartment building is
used to give more detail on the breakdown of materials, labor, and serves to reiterate the point
that often pre-construction involves looking at previously completed projects. Overall the essay
stresses the importance of the pre-construction process and highlights the most important parts in
the pre-construction phase.
For any construction job, there is a phase of planning that is essential to the project and
known in the industry as pre-construction. This is the initial step of the project and its purpose is
to essentially give a detailed layout of the project as well as a schedule for the client and the
construction crew to follow. This step is vital as, for any project’s success, an organized and
clear plan is crucial for execution. The pre-construction phase includes what the project is,
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potential problems, the planning, and scheduling of the project, the extent, cost, and necessary
analysis of other needs for the project.
The services of pre-construction extend beyond just rote estimations of costs and what is
necessary for the project. It is a highly detailed layout that can include design and value
engineering, acquiring a permit, cost estimation, and much more. Pre-construction services by
themselves also come at a cost. This can depend on a number of circumstances, including what
type of job it is, your location, and the overall scope of the project (Kuhn). The pre-construction
cost is considered to be separate from the cost of the actual construction process. Alongside a
clear outline for the construction crew, it also informs the client on what will be required from
them. The length of the process can take anywhere from two to twelve weeks. It is so important
because this planning is what helps allow the client to decide if their construction endeavor is
feasible or not. Many problems can arise during the planning phase and can lead to the
realization that the project maybe is too expensive, not able to meet a time constraint, or simply
not possible based on the availability of space (Proest). Therefore, the pre-construction phase
gives the client the initial flexibility on the proceedings of the project and allows the client to
cancel the project prior to any binding contract agreements.
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Prior to the general pre-construction phase is the acquisition of land which will become
the construction site. A real estate agent can be very helpful in the facilitation of a land search,
but it is also possible to do this by yourself (TheBalanceSMB) In today’s modern age, many
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A construction contract agreement is a document that sets a date and specifies which parties are going to
participate in the construction process. Usually, the contract agreement is executed between the owner of the project
and the contractor or supplier that is providing the requested services and contains several sections of clauses
defining the scope, terms, and conditions of such agreement (Rodriguez).
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platforms such as LoopNet, Land and Farm, and LandWatch are considered to be great ways to
access commercial real estate listings. It is also important to consider the zoning laws of the land
which can set restrictions such as the size of buildings and the kinds of residences that can be
built upon it. A real estate agent can help throughout the process to minimize the risk of legal
concerns which can become quite complicated. Buying land is not easy and it is important to do
the necessary due diligence and coordinate with specialists and experts (Kuhn).
The first part of pre-construction is finding a project manager and/or a general contractor,
and the initial meeting with the client. Sites such as monster.com, HomeAdvisor or websites of
organizations such as Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) are great places to begin a
search for a manager. Project managers play a very important role in bringing a construction
