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This has been touched on, but more info would be appreciated.I just had a call from a Designer who saw some of my work on a trim job.We talked and he was impressed w/my “attention to detail” and my “honest and straight forward approach”.He asked me to bid a job out of scope for my 1.5 man opperation.(an addition to the amount of aprox. 300K-400k).After turning him down about 10 times in 10 phone calls, I’m starting to try to see how I can make this work.If I were to plan an addition of this scope for my own mansion, I could line up the subs and over see the job…so now I’m thinking???If they just want someone to manage/line up the subs, yet the designer know he is still the G.C. with all financial aspects his worry , would this work.I would offer to be hired on the designers dollar and he would pass the additional cost to the client or cut his rates, and I would hire and oversee and make the decisions that need made immediately on construction matters and let the designer deal with finish choices.This is how I see the “Construction Manager” role.Am I right?Dead Wrong? Seems like a way to get up scale w/o getting in over my head.(FINANCIALLY!) Any and all input appreciated…Or should I wait till I have more employees than vehicles!?!
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Jeff, You have valid questions and a reason to be cautious. I will relate to you some personal experiences. I moved to Houston in 1982 during the boom. I was already a good carpenter that worked mainly in cabinets and custom trim work. With in a year I started my own cabinet shop. My first jobs where from designers I met while work for a company. I would do trim jobs,cabinets mostly in Euro-style, anything. My business rocketed off.Was doing $50,000. a month gross. Working among these designers exposed me to high-end work that I would never have found on my own. I was also exposed to new and interesting types of projects. I met architects and builders that would later become important to my career. I got to do things when I was young that many people don't get to do in their whole career. On top of all this I became a better craftsman and finally a builder.
My advice to you is that if you can get into this market you will be rewarded for a long time. Just act like a professional, do impeccable, and make your designer look like a hero. My experience in the past is that most designers charge a fee so you may be dealing direct with the client with the designer acting as owner rep. Just be careful not to bite off more than you can chew if you've never done a job this big. Best of luck,
Bill Swales