Payment

Payment is critical to the success of the project.  Always make sure the following items are addressed:

A)    When and how often payment is allowed or scheduled

 

B)    How payment amounts will be calculated, including retainage, if any

 

C)    When payment will be received

 

D)    What amount of payment will be released, including retainage.

 

E)    Who will authorized and approve payment

 

F)     Where payment will be received and released to you

Contract Documents

The contract documents are the specific documents (plans, specifications, etc…) that dictate what your contract work is based on.  Since your pricing is based on these documents, always make sure you reference these in your contract. 

Authority

So many times, this is overlooked and can truly be a big deal when information is passed around or directives are made without proper authorization.  Always make it clear in the contract who has the authority to make binding decisions, changes, and issue directives.  Also be sure to identify what type of authority the different representatives involved in a project have so the roles/responsibilities of each party are clearly identified.  Address this issue before you sign the contract and things should run a lot smoother during the progress of the work.

Change Orders

A)    Who you have to notify and receive permission from for change order work

B)    When and how do you have to notify them of potential change order work

C)    What documents do you have to provide

D)    How and when the change order work will get paid

E)    Where the additional funds will come from for the change order work

F)     What is the reasonable time for approval and what is the additional cost for your delays are while you’re waiting for approval

G)    How you and the owner will resolve the change order issue if immediate approval for the work is not received in the agreed time

Remember, change order work is not “extra work”. It disrupts the progress and productivity of the work as you had originally planned for when you bid the work. It is not your fault nor your responsibility, and you should be justly compensated for this unanticipated disruption.

Schedule of the Work

A)    You are not responsible for delays caused by the owner in obtaining the required permits, easements, approvals, permissions, etc., to do the work.

B)    You are not responsible for delays caused by others

C)    You are not responsible for “Acts of God”

D)    You are not responsible for inclement weather

E)    You have included adequate time for long lead items (Be specific and tie this into your supplier with whatever documentation you have received from them)

Some owners will even have “liquidated damages” or penalties for being late or even bonuses for early completion. Make sure that scheduling has been properly included in the contract.

A well-drafted construction contract clearly sets out the work to be done, the price to be paid for the work, and the terms and conditions of payment. The contract should also allocate various foreseeable risks between the parties. When the parties allocate a list of potential risks, the contract becomes longer, but it reduces the potential for disagreements in "gray areas" that are not addressed at all – assuming that both parties take the time to read and understand the lengthy, dryly-worded document. Failure to read a written agreement is not a valid excuse, so at all times it should be taken seriously. 

For all of your contracting needs, contact ParsCo at 850-776-6265 or email us at info@pars-co.net

www.pars-co.net

 

 

In conjunction with A Router Works Signs, ParsCo successfully designed and completed construction on the monumental sign for Summerset Estates in Navarre, FL.  

In design, defining the program requirements is critical to make sure the overall goal is accomplished for a customer.  Regardless of whether you are designing a small interior renovation, a brand new multi-million dollar custom home, or a high-rise commercial office building….design requires criteria tailored to the particular project.

When designing a monumental sign, ParsCo uses the following guidelines to achieve a final result satisfactory to all parties:

Less is More
Less can be more when designing any sign! Leaving space around the edges and not filling the space completely with your text will add impact to what you do use on the sign.

Impression
Your sign is your “first impression” with the public, and first impressions are lasting impressions. Your sign should project a positive image for the public to have of your business. Potential customers will judge the inside of your business by how it looks on the outside. Don’t attempt to sell them with information on the sign – save that information until they are in your business.

Setting
Ideally, the design and the colors of your location or building should reinforce the design and colors of your sign (or vice versa). Color is probably the easiest and most cost-effective device for this coordination of design for business identification.

Spacing
“White-space”. This is the surface area of a sign’s face that is left uncovered by either text or graphics. The proper amount of white-space is just as important for quick readability as are graphics, text and colors. In fact, 30% to 40% of the sign’s face area should be left as white-space for optimal readability. Having your letters too close to the edge of the sign always looks bad.

Borders
Keep the border width and distance from the edge proportional to the size of the sign. Larger signs should have wider borders spaced further from the edge of the sign. Remember, a border is decoration and can be overdone.

Contrast
Choose contrast colors for your lettering. Blue on green for example is very hard to read. Choose gold or silver letters on a black or dark green sign. Avoid light backgrounds because, while extremely visible, they create glare when illuminated.

Contact ParsCo today for more information.
www.pars-co.net
850-776-6265

ParsCo consultants don’t just bring a level of expertise to your organization that you might be lacking….they create a new culture of trust that increases productivity, efficiency, and the bottom line.  ParsCo strives to build an organization based on accountability, where everyone trusts each other. It’s not easy to do, but when you achieve it, everything moves faster within your firm and you gain a serious edge. Here are a few of ParsCo’s secrets on how they accomplish this goal:

 

• Keep your word. Build trust by living up to your commitments.  If you’re not accountable for what you say, people won’t follow. With low accountability, nothing gets done because no one trusts what you talked about. 

 

• Look inward. Accountability starts at home.  If you want others to be responsible, you have to be, too. If you aren’t, you’re just shifting blame. If you think the problem is out there, then that kind of thinking is the problem.  he said. Look in the mirror first. If you blame others, you can’t sustain trust.

 

• Be all-encompassing. Integrity isn’t just something you do. It has to be part of your being.  Your principles rule everything you do.  Integrity needs to be integral to who you are. You want people to say, ‘You have to understand we’re all held accountable here. It’s what the organization’s personality is.’

 

• Operate reliably. Be consistent in what you tell people and how you act. Explain why you want them to do something. They’ll learn they can trust what you say. If you consistently tell people the truth and why you are asking them to do something, they will do it and eventually will walk over hot coals for you. 

 

• Be clear. Goals for how to live by values should be no different than work goals.  They should be stated to everyone. Set out values and rewards  so people achieve results while in harmony with those principles. The key is making it explicit and real.

 

• Gain speed. When you have a culture of trust, everything moves faster. People don’t have to spend time checking on each other and wondering if they’ll deliver.  When you don’t have trust, speed goes down and costs go up.  There is a low-trust tax.

 

• Share negatives, too. Communicate bad news when it happens instead of hiding it. Own up to it, take responsibility and tell others how you plan to proceed to solve the problem in the future. People will follow a leader who has vision and who they trust. 

 

• Offer support. Once you’ve told people what you expect from them, give them the resources to do it. Then you should hold them accountable.  If they need two weeks for a project task and you give them only one, you can’t expect them to do the job as well as first planned, but be sure you set goals that are in line with what should be reasonable. You always want to be helping employees perform at a high level.  It’s unfair if you haven’t told them what to expect, what the goal is and given them the resources to make it happen. Setting goals and monitoring and following up to make sure they are achieved is essential for success by all good managers. 

 

• Follow your words. Build trust by doing what you say you will do. Too often there’s a wide gap between words and action. When there’s very little gap, that’s real integrity. 

 

To learn more about Parsco’s consulting services call 850-776-6265. 

 

ParsCo, LLC

P.O. Box 12862

Pensacola, FL 32591

850.776.6265

Visit us on the web at www.pars-co.net

 

The use of exposed wood is no longer for barns. The trend of using exposed wood in the home is becoming increasingly popular for a number of reasons. Contrary to popular belief, exposed wood can be used in a variety of ways and does not have to look one certain way. If you are looking to add a touch of something special to your home this year, consider using exposed wood in your renovation or custom home. Take a peek at a few ways exposed wood can be used in your home:

Create a more streamline, consistent feel by painting the exposed wood the same color as the walls. This will give you all of the advantages of using exposed wooden beams without drawing too much attention upwards.

If you prefer the industrial look of exposed wooden beams, leave them uncovered and let the natural materials shine. Exposed wooden beams such as these create a more natural and modern look while drawing attention to the space.

Perhaps you are looking to create a more subtle, quiet feel with exposed wood. Using exposed wood in a way like this creates a warm and cozy ambiance in the home while also letting the natural qualities of the wood be seen.

Call ParsCo today for a free design consultation on your next project at 850-776-6265. 

• In-law suites: Adding an element of privacy to a custom home is becoming increasingly popular. More custom homes are being designed with in-law suites to give guests added privacy and comfort. Some custom homes even go so far as to create separate entrances for the in-law suites to create the maximum amount of privacy.
• Hearth rooms: Creating a room specifically for a fireplace is becoming a popular trend, especially in colder climates. Designing a hearth room in a custom home can create a warm and cozy ambiance in the home without much effort.
• Walls of windows: Using a wall dedicated to windows is becoming increasingly popular. This trend touches on sustainability by taking advantage of natural light while also creating a sleek and stylish feel. A wall of windows will also open an area that may not have felt as spacious without the windows.