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Guides for owners
Contracts, pay applications, change orders, permits and South Florida rules, explained in plain English.
Owner’s rep vs. general contractor: who works for you?
Both know how buildings get built, but only one is paid to protect the owner. Here is how the general contractor and the owner’s representative differ, and how they work together.
Read the guideWhat does an owner’s representative do, phase by phase?
An owner’s representative runs the business of a build for the owner, from the first budget to the last warranty. This guide goes through each phase and what you should receive.
Read the guideHow to review a contractor pay application
The monthly pay application is the contractor’s request for payment. Here is how to check it line by line, including retainage, stored materials and Florida lien waivers, with a worked example.
Read the guideChange orders: how to control them
Change orders are how a budget slips, one reasonable-sounding request at a time. Here is where they come from, how allowances feed them, and how to review and negotiate each one before the work happens.
Read the guideBuilding in South Florida from out of state: a guide for remote owners
South Florida has its own permits, hurricane code, flood rules and seasons. Here is what a remote owner needs to know, and how to stay in control of a project you can’t walk every week.
Read the guideCondo milestone inspections: how an owner’s rep protects the board
Florida’s milestone inspection law turned structural repair into a board-level construction project for many South Florida associations. Here is how the requirements work and how a board keeps restoration on budget and documented.
Read the guideStart a project
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We’ll review it with you and send a written proposal. The first consultation is free.
- A 30-minute call with Osher about your project
- An honest opinion, even if you decide not to hire us
- A written proposal: flat monthly retainer or a percentage of construction value