Your real estate project is falling behind schedule. How will you confront a contractor who misses deadlines?

Address a contractor's missed deadlines immediately and positively. Set up a meeting to address the delays and their reasons. Examine the project timeline and identify any missing milestones. Communicate the implications of these delays for the entire project. Collaborate to create a new calendar with specific, attainable deadlines. Emphasise accountability and the need for timely completion. Provide assistance or resources as needed to reach new aims. Maintain open communication and regularly monitor progress to ensure compliance with the new plan.

Antes de confrontar al contratista, evaluaré la situación de manera integral. Revisaré el contrato para comprender los plazos y entregables acordados, asegurándome de identificar cualquier cláusula relevante sobre retrasos. También consideraré si ha habido circunstancias imprevistas, como problemas climáticos o escasez de materiales, que podrían justificar el retraso. Comprender el contexto es crucial para distinguir entre retrasos excusables y negligencia, lo que informará cómo abordaré la conversación con el contratista.

The primary consideration in assessing a contractor problem should be how the problem or challenge reaches whomever hired the GC or contractor. It should be up to the GC to alert "the boss" of any and every potential problem as soon as possible. It's not always about who to blame at first. The emphasis needs to be on determining the best solution as soon as possible. An on-site accident is different from an avoidable delay in planning. I once had a home remodel project delayed by 10 days because the shower door installer went on vacation. To me, that was the fault of the GC that insisted on hiring him, and other arrangements could have been made. A successful project begins with everyone knowing their entire list of responsibilities.

I would implement Lead Construction Management. This technique utilizes priorities and accounts for lag and risks. It is the most rational way to resolve problems quickly and efficiently.

First review the contract before confronting them. Outline the terms that are of concern. Schedule a meeting in a neutral private setting to have a productive conversation. Approach the concerns with a calm and professional demeanor. Be clear when communicating the specific instances where the deadlines are being missed and the impact it is having on the project. Then listen to the contractor for the reasons and the delays. They may have reasons such as supply chain issues,or other factors that have impacted their ability to meet the deadlines. Communicate my expectations moving forward. Require regular updates and the progress of the project. Outline future consequences for continued delays. Have a plan to keep the project on schedule.

Open dialogue is crucial when addressing a building contractor who has missed a deadline. By fostering a transparent and honest conversation, a real estate developer can understand the underlying issues causing delays. This approach encourages collaborative problem-solving and allows both parties to discuss realistic solutions and revised timelines. It also helps maintain a professional relationship, reducing tension and fostering mutual respect. Open dialogue ensures that expectations are clear and can prevent future misunderstandings, ultimately keeping the project on track.

Missing deadlines is common in the development phase. Deadlines are essential for any project, but the construction process is not always straightforward. Factors such as weather conditions, moisture issues, and human errors can cause delays. It's important to engage in a constructive dialogue with the contractor to resolve these matters effectively. Construction is a game of precision where even minor errors by the contractor can impact your life, finances, and the trust placed in you. Here are some tips for handling this situation through effective dialogue : 1. Collaborative Problem-Solving: 2. Performance Review 4. Monitoring 5. Root Cause Analysis only if the delay was intentional so you should apply penalty for delays

Una vez evaluada la situación, iniciaré un diálogo abierto con el contratista. Abordaré la conversación con calma y claridad, buscando comprender su perspectiva y las razones específicas de los plazos incumplidos. Escucharé atentamente sus respuestas, buscando identificar problemas subyacentes y posibles soluciones. La comunicación efectiva es clave en el desarrollo inmobiliario, y crear un entorno colaborativo puede ayudar a encontrar soluciones que beneficien a ambas partes y permitan avanzar con el proyecto.

Having an open dialogue is key when deadlines fall behind. This allows the manager and contractor to be on the same page in order understand if the delay was unforseeable or not. Open dialogue also foster communication and leads to more trust between parties.

You want to have a great relationship out of the gates with your GC, but your contract and scope of work should outline penalties for missed development milestones and an ability for developer to recoup losses in the event the delays continue. The GC is more likely to agree to an achievable project schedule vs. promising an overly aggressive delivery estimate in order to win the business.

Good points, Bree. It's also helpful to use AIA form contracts with general contractors because the industry is very familiar with the terms and conditions in these well known documents. The contract specifically states that a GC that falls behind schedule is required to produce and implement a catch-up schedule to return the project to the approved critical path schedule. If the GC is fully responsible for the delay, costs associated to make up the time shall be born by the GC, and typically not paid by GC held contingency. Having a great attorney help negotiate such T&Cs is paramount, as we always sign AIA contracts and then put them away. The greatest lesson I have learned in the building is addressing such matters quickly.

Setting expectations is essential when addressing a building contractor who has missed a deadline. Clearly outlining performance standards, timelines, and consequences helps ensure accountability and understanding of project priorities. It provides a framework for discussing delays, identifying causes, and implementing corrective measures. This clarity fosters a proactive approach to problem-solving, helps prevent future lapses, and maintains professional integrity. By setting and communicating expectations, a developer can guide the contractor towards timely project completion and improved collaboration.

Expectations should include the GC or contractor reporting to the person/people that hired them on a daily basis regarding progress made (or not made). It can be as simple as an email at the end of the day so that the hiring source has documentation of the progress "just in case". Incentives are ideal. Let the GC know that a daily fine is in order for each working day beyond the scheduled completion date the project is still being worked on. Offer a "reward" for each day AHEAD of schedule the project is completed by to keep the GC on the move. It's worth a few thousand dollars more to have your project completed ahead of schedule and be able to move forward.

Durante nuestra discusión, reafirmaré mis expectativas. Articularé claramente los plazos del proyecto y la importancia crítica de adherirse a ellos. Enfatizaré la necesidad de una comunicación constante y una gestión proactiva, destacando el nivel de profesionalismo y compromiso que espero del contratista. Reiterar los plazos y establecer un estándar claro de desempeño es esencial para garantizar que el proyecto avance según lo planeado.

Implementing a solution can be, in my experience, one of the most difficult aspects of a project that has behind schedule. The first step must necessarily be to stop the bleeding and to perform whatever figurative triage is necessary to prevent further delays, as much as possible. Solutions for the problems that have already arisen can then be sought, but in the delicate balance of real estate development, too many items are interconnected and if you are not careful, the problems can rapidly escalate. Blame, change orders and contracts can all be looked at once the "patient" is stable.

Después de establecer expectativas claras, trabajaré con el contratista para implementar soluciones. Esto podría incluir ajustar el cronograma del proyecto, reasignar recursos o revisar estrategias para recuperar el tiempo perdido. Estaré abierto a sus sugerencias, ya que su experiencia puede proporcionar ideas valiosas sobre cómo acelerar procesos sin comprometer la calidad. La colaboración en la búsqueda de soluciones prácticas beneficiará a ambas partes y ayudará a mantener el proyecto en marcha.

Monitoring progress is invaluable when addressing a building contractor who has missed a deadline. Regularly tracking milestones and performance allows a real estate developer to identify delays early, understand their causes, and take corrective action promptly. This proactive approach helps maintain project momentum and ensures transparency in communication. By having detailed records of progress, the developer can provide evidence during discussions, fostering accountability and a constructive dialogue. Continuous monitoring also helps in reassessing timelines and reallocating resources effectively, ensuring the project stays on track.

Plan on daily communication via email from day one until sign-off upon completion. Doing so provides both sides with documentation, shows who was first to identify problems and challenges, and address where and when problems and delays began. By doing so, you avoid the "he said, she said" arguments with thousands of dollars at stake. You also have a record of issues and how they were handled to refer to on future projects. Even if the entire day was spent "putting in the floor in unit #101 without incident", everything is documented.

Tras la conversación, monitorearé el progreso de cerca. Estableceré controles e hitos regulares para asegurar que se sigue el nuevo plan. Utilizaré estas oportunidades no solo para realizar un seguimiento del avance, sino también para abordar cualquier problema nuevo que pueda surgir con prontitud. Un monitoreo constante demostrará al contratista la seriedad del cumplimiento de los plazos y lo hará responsable de sus responsabilidades en el proyecto.

It can be beneficial to bring in a third party to act to review a schedule and/or to provide an additional layer of oversight if a contractor has let a project slide too far. In addition to providing another set of eyes and thoughts on the job, it can act as an additional barrier between the developer and the contractor to hopefully prevent the relationship from coming under any extra strain in what is likely an already tense period. It is important to set ego aside and focus on the end goal - completing the job.

It’s very important to monitor progress. In my experience using MS Project can be very helpful in monitoring milestones and tracking progress.

Fact-Based Discussion -> Frame the conversation around the specific issues you're facing. Present facts and evidence to clearly explain the problems and their impact. Problem-Solving Mindset -> Instead of assigning blame, focus on working together to find solutions. Listen to the contractor's perspective and explore potential solutions collaboratively.