Your office space is nearly complete, flaunting an updated look that you hope will lend warmth to your work environment while lifting your company’s productivity potential to new heights. But unless you’ve completed the closeout process, explains Michael Herbert, co-owner of Southern Construction, LLC, there are still essential steps left before your project comes to a close. Uncertain about what to expect during the commercial construction closeout? The experts at Southern Construction, LLC offer a quick overview to help you feel confident at the close of your next project.
Substantial Completion
The closeout process, Herbert explains, begins when the business owner – or architect, in many cases – issues a certificate of substantial completion. The precise definition of substantial completion varies on a project-to-project basis, but it often refers to a point at which the vast majority of a project is complete. This paperwork must be filed with the Clerk of Court, and then the remainder of the closeout process follows.
The Punch List
After reaching the point of substantial completion, you and your contractor will go over what’s known as a punch list. This list encompasses every minute detail that must be addressed before the project is truly complete.
“The punch list usually includes simple things, like fixing door handles and placing caulk around windows,” says Jennifer Wilson, Southern Construction’s owner and director of business development. “What’s on the list depends on the project, but it’s essentially designed to help you dot your i’s and cross your t’s.”
Warranty Information
Upon completion of the project, you’ll typically receive warranty information from your contractor. This will usually include a warranty for construction services, which ensures that problems that appear within the warranty period can be addressed by your contractor without necessitating another project altogether. Larger projects may also incorporate other products – HVAC systems and appliances, for example – that come with warranties of their own.
Final Review
With the punch list complete and warranty information in the hands of the business owner, the closeout process usually ends with a final review. This offers one last opportunity to make certain that everything happened according to plan before submitting your final payment. Following this payment, you’ll typically receive the final lien waiver, which indicates that the completed property is entirely in your business’s possession.
Other Things to Consider
While most commercial construction closeout processes involve many of the same steps, Herbert and Wilson both emphasize that the process will unfold differently for every project based on numerous external or internal factors. Larger projects, for example, may involve an architect. And while the architect’s expertise can prove invaluable assistance with more complex projects, Wilson says, your contractor can likely execute smaller-scale projects without additional help, leading to significant savings of both time and money.
On a similar note, Wilson explains that the best way to streamline the closeout process is to build a close, open relationship with your contractor. This makes it that much easier to discuss questions or concerns throughout, ultimately helping you lock in a finished project that ticks every box on your list of demands.
Finally, Wilson suggests that if you’re satisfied with your contractor’s work, writing a referral can reinforce your relationship and provide benefits for both your contractor and your business. “Contractors get the bulk of business from referrals and relationships,” Wilson says. “If a client can provide us with a letter or website testimonial, it really does help – and if your business ever needs something down the road, we’ll remember.”
With a history of success throughout Southeastern Louisiana, Southern Construction is fully prepared to undertake your commercial construction project in the Greater New Orleans area. Begin your project today by calling Southern Construction, LLC at 504-339-3020 or contacting the company online.