Lesson 1Construction-phase stakeholder coordination: utilities, inspectors, lenders, municipal agencies, community liaisonExplains how to coordinate utilities, inspectors, lenders, agencies, and the community during construction. Focuses on communication plans, meeting structures, documentation, and resolving conflicts without delaying the schedule.
Utility company design and tie-in processBuilding and safety inspections workflowLender site visits and draw reviewsPermitting agencies and plan revisionsCommunity liaison and issue escalationLesson 2Roles and responsibilities: developer/owner, project manager, architect, civil engineer, landscape architect, traffic consultant, general contractor, leasing/sales teamDefines the responsibilities and decision rights of each core participant in a real estate project. Emphasizes communication lines, approvals, and how the project manager coordinates owners, designers, contractors, and commercial teams.
Owner and developer decision authorityProject manager leadership and reportingArchitect and engineer design obligationsConsultants: traffic, landscape, specialtyGeneral contractor and subs on siteLesson 3Quality assurance and inspections: submittals, shop drawings, testing, third-party inspections, punchlist processDescribes the systems that ensure built work meets design and code requirements. Covers submittals, shop drawings, testing, inspections, and punchlist close-out, emphasizing documentation and accountability for quality.
Submittal logs and review workflowsShop drawings and coordination reviewsMaterial and system testing protocolsThird-party and special inspectionsPunchlist creation and close-outLesson 4Project delivery models: design-bid-build, design-build, negotiated GC, and implications for schedule and risk allocationCompares major project delivery models and how they affect risk, schedule, and cost control. Clarifies roles under design-bid-build, design-build, and negotiated GC, and when each model best fits a real estate project.
Design-bid-build structure and pros/consDesign-build integration and trade-offsNegotiated GC and preconstruction servicesRisk allocation in each delivery modelImpact on schedule, cost, and qualityLesson 5Budget control: cost estimate reconciliation, change order management, contingency draws, amount and governance of developer feeDetails methods for establishing, tracking, and controlling the construction budget. Addresses estimate reconciliation, contingency strategy, change orders, and how developer fees are structured, governed, and reported to stakeholders.
Baseline budget and cost code structureEstimate reconciliation with contractorChange order review and negotiationContingency planning and draw rulesDeveloper fee amount and approvalsLesson 6Phase breakdown and typical durations: pre-design, schematic design, entitlements, construction documents, bidding, construction, commissioning, close-outBreaks the project into phases from pre-design through close-out, with typical durations and dependencies. Highlights key deliverables, approval gates, and how delays in one phase affect permitting, financing, and turnover.
Pre-design programming and feasibilitySchematic design and early pricingEntitlements and permitting timelinesConstruction documents and biddingConstruction, commissioning, close-outLesson 7Procurement and contractor selection: RFP/RFQ elements, evaluation criteria, bid tabulation, bonding and insurance requirementsCovers how to structure RFQs and RFPs, evaluate contractor proposals, and manage competitive bidding. Explains qualification criteria, bid leveling, bonding, insurance, and how to document a defensible selection decision.
RFQ vs RFP objectives and timingScope definition and bid instructionsTechnical and commercial evaluation matrixBid tabulation and leveling methodsBonding, insurance, and risk transferLesson 8Schedule management: critical path identification, milestone planning, use of CPM and Gantt tools, contingency planningFocuses on building and maintaining a realistic project schedule. Explains critical path, milestones, float, and how to use CPM and Gantt tools. Addresses recovery plans, resequencing, and schedule risk contingencies.
Work breakdown and activity definitionCritical path and float interpretationCPM scheduling tools and reportingMilestones, phasing, and look-aheadsSchedule risk, slippage, and recovery
