Construction Industry Materials and Decision-Making

Construction industry building materials can be innovative, exciting, and sustainable; clients are wowed when presented building material options. Those same materials can also be so high-priced and unattainable they jeopardize project deliverables, like completing the job within budget and on time.

Architects believe many construction industry contractors don’t make decisions that are in the best interests of clients. Many contractors believe architects don’t have a clear understanding of material decisions made after the bid and supply chain challenges. A report sharing these findings was based on architects and contractors surveyed in 2021.

AGC, AIA Collaborate to Assess…Collaboration

When a contractor tries to win a project by pulling a low-cost bid together, it can promise to bring the budget down. When a contractor and architect collaborate earlier on, those compromises are easier, and it’s not a race to offer the cheapest bid. –Construction Dive

American Institute of Architects teamed with Associated General Contractors of America to discover what makes an architect-contractor relationship work or fail. The Architect’s Journey to Specification explores ways to improve the processes and offers suggestions to mitigate misunderstandings.

Findings included:

• Almost half the architects surveyed believe they have majority ownership of decision-making. But a large majority of contractors believe decision-making is shared.
• Architects and contractors believe more collaboration is needed, even though they frequently disagree during collaborative efforts.
• Contractors need architects to be more responsive to RFIs (requests for information).
• Material substitutions are a leading cause of conflict.
• Some architects say contractors’ material substitutions are more self-serving than client-based. Contractors say keeping client projects on schedule and within budget is very client-based and those factors drive material choices.

The report suggests the solution is to collaborate early in the project. This will put material options on the table sooner and deter later conflicts.

Business Development: Operate With a Sense of Urgency

One of the greatest benefits of Construction Monitor building permit marketing information is it provides area-specific information before bids are requested. Use it to create project development forecasts and begin networking while your competitors’ attention is elsewhere. Also, we are happy when you make money using our data.

Ask us about ways to develop business leads, make money, and make us happy: Call 800-925-6085 or contact Construction Monitor.