FAQ's

Yes.  While many of the larger firms only handle large commercial and industrial projects, Hirsch Construction Services is highly experienced in all types residential projects and familiar with industry standards of care and execution.

Residential and commercial projects, generally in the range of $50,000.00 to $20,000,000.00.

Yes!  Whether you are purchasing property to build a new home or a commercial project, there are many factors that must be taken into consideration before committing to your purchase.  Site accessibility, aesthetics and options for building siting and views, allowable coverage for structures and impervious surfaces, septic and well suitability, utility availability, rainwater runoff and drainage, landscaping components, building setbacks and other zoning constraints, wetlands, soils, ledge rock and other subsurface conditions, and other restrictions that will affect both your project budget and overall suitability for your planned project.  We can help you assess all of these factors, as well as develop project budgets and timelines so that you make your purchase with eyes wide open.

Hirsch Construction Services works closely with attorneys that specialize in construction law, know the pitfalls to watch out for, and the local case precedent that affects your contracts.  We work side by side with our attorney developing the project-specific scope and requirements, while the attorney puts it all into a legal framework that protects your interests and minimizes risk.

1% to 5% is a reasonable range to expect for change orders on a well-managed project.  Unfortunately, it is not uncommon to hear of projects running 10% to 20% over budget, and 50% to 100% or beyond is by no means unheard of. Change orders can be generated for numerous reasons including unforeseen or concealed conditions, unanticipated additional requirements by governing agencies to meet code, owner-generated changes or additions to the project, incomplete original contractor bids, missing or conflicting information in design documents, poorly written contracts, poor communications, and outside forces such as extreme weather, labor strikes, material shortages, tariffs, and sudden unusual material cost increases.

Most change orders can be eliminated through proper project oversight and management, and the change orders that do arise can be planned for and anticipated in the project budget.

Ways to reduce and eliminate change orders include:

• Careful review of all construction design documents for completeness, code compliance and coordination.
• Careful review of project scope to make sure all of the owner’s needs and requirements are addressed.
• Perform exploratory investigations to identify concealed conditions such as asbestos or decay in existing structures, or subsurface soil conditions such as ledge rock, unsuitable soils, and water conditions.
• Assessment and identification of items that cannot be known or quantified and setting up budget allowances to address them. “knowing what we don’t know”
• Careful project risk management including adequate insurance coverage for all parties, jobsite safety, and protection of existing and completed work, all of which can generate additional costs.
• Careful review of project contracts for completeness as well as coordination with other trades to eliminate uncovered portions of the work.
• Assessment of contractors to be sure they are skilled and qualified.
• Close attention to construction details to eliminate cost issues which could arise later due to failures.

Professionally managing these and many other details will assure that your project stays on budget with a minimum of change orders or cost overruns.  If you hire Hirsch Construction Services as your Owner’s Representative, Construction Manager, or General Contractor, you can rest assured that your project will be completed within your budgetary requirements.