Managing a Developer’s Vision for a $20M Custom Home Build

Delivering a High-End Residence On Budget Amid Constant Changes and Tight Deadlines

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The challenge

A prominent developer wanted to build a new custom residence that embodied his vision. However, with multiple ongoing projects, his time was fully devoted to his business operations. He was hesitant to hire a project manager, fearing his vision might be compromised and that he would need to divert attention from his primary business to manage the project himself.

Objective

To oversee the construction of the residence while keeping the client’s vision intact and ensuring the project stayed on budget. The goal was to manage all aspects, from consulting with the city for permits to coordinating architects, engineers, and trades, while providing frequent updates without consuming the client’s valuable time.

The strategy

To achieve these objectives, we implemented a targeted strategy focused on maintaining the client’s vision and optimizing project management:

Interactive Dashboard

Our dashboard consolidated project data, streamlined bids, shared client preferences with designers, and offered real-time updates to minimize errors, delays, and improve communication.

Contractor Bid Process

We created a structured bid review process with detailed task lists for each sub-trade, speeding up evaluations and providing clear visibility into cost variances for informed client decisions.

Milestones

The project was divided into milestones with tasks and costs, offering a clear progress view, simplifying cost tracking, aiding bid negotiations, and identifying potential savings to stay on budget.

The outcome

The strategy was tested by frequent design changes and a fast-paced project timeline. Despite these challenges, the dashboard streamlined communication, enabling real-time updates and efficient coordination among all parties. Bid reviews were conducted swiftly and accurately, helping the client understand variances and make timely decisions.

The project proceeded smoothly with careful tracking of costs and proactive management of resources. Our strategic approach led to substantial savings, such as reduced costs for equipment and labor. The residence was completed on budget and according to the client’s vision, proving the strategy’s effectiveness in managing complex custom builds while minimizing disruption to the client’s primary business.