FAQ's

What does an Owner’s Representative do?
  • An Owner’s Representative (OR) acts on behalf of an owner’s interests (i.e. vision, budget, operational needs and schedule requirements).  
  • Talented ORs bring expertise that bridges the gap between owner stakeholders, who are busy with business operational demands, and external partners such as architects, engineers, and construction managers.
  • A skilled OR serves as an expert and strategic advisor to the owner who  helps successfully plan and navigate complex, and often overwhelming projects.. 
  • ORs orchestrate the flow of information and collaboration between architects, engineers, contractors, and internal stakeholders to ensure details don’t fall through the cracks.
  • An expert OR proactively identifies and mitigates project risks that may not be apparent.
  • Owners often don’t have the bandwidth or expertise to adequately lead complex projects.  Schedule delays and overpaying is common without an expert leading the project, keeping teams aligned and focused.
  • A skilled OR ensures timely and informed decisions and appropriate assumptions are made to support an integrated schedule that keep the project on track.
  • ORs fill a critical gap between project stakeholders and the technical delivery teams.  
  • The owner and internal stakeholders can focus more on their core business with confidence when a trusted OR is attending to the details.
  • A good OR reports project health that highlights areas needing attention early so proactive mitigations can be planned.
  • An OR operates under the principles of agency law, meaning they are entrusted to act on the owner’s behalf and are legally obligated to prioritize the owner’s best interests. This includes maintaining loyalty, transparency, and accountability throughout every phase of the project.
  • This relationship is fundamentally different from that of a design professional or contractor, who are bound by an agreement with the owner to perform specific work or provide deliverables.  The OR ensures that the contractor adheres to the contract terms with no direct contractual or fiduciary obligation to the contractor.
  • In short, the Owner’s Rep serves as the owner’s strategic agent that protects their interests.

The benefits are more than just peace of mind.  Hiring an OR is a strategic project investment to ensure successful project delivery.

A few Additional Benefits of Owner’s Representation:

Cost Savings & ROI

  • ORs optimize budgets from day one—using value engineering to refine designs, materials, and methods. They negotiate favorable contracts, scrutinize change orders, and monitor spending to maximize return on investment.

Schedule Reliability

  • An expert OR builds and maintains detailed timelines, proactively resolving issues before they become delays. When the unexpected happens, they’re ready with solutions to keep your project moving.

Construction Quality

  • From design reviews to on-site inspections, ORs ensure your project is built to spec and meets your quality standards. They oversee material selection and installation to prevent performance issues.

Risks

  • Experienced ORs know the pitfalls and plan accordingly. Proactive risk identification and mitigation planning alone are reasons to hire a talented OR.

Efficiency & Communication

  • ORs streamline the project by serving as a central point of communication.  ORs manage the flow of information so internal and external teams keep progressing.  ORs keep key players informed of project health and focused on project aspects that need attention.

The Bottom line:  An OR helps you deliver your project smarter, faster, and with greater confidence, protecting your investment and your time.

We offer flexible engagement models to match the scale, complexity, and clarity of your project. 

Common options:

Percentage of Construction Costs  

    • Typical Range: 1–3% of total construction cost  
    • Best For: Projects with defined budgets and full lifecycle needs  
    • Benefit: Aligns incentives—motivates cost control and value optimization

Fixed or Lump-Sum Fee  

    • Best For: Smaller, well-defined projects with clear scope and short duration  
    • Benefit: Provides cost certainty and scope discipline

 Hourly/Time & Materials  

    • Best For: Early-stage consulting, feasibility studies, or evolving scopes  
    • Benefit: Offers flexibility while project needs are still being shaped

Hiring an Owner’s Representative delivers the most value when your project is:

    • Complex or High-Stakes
      Large, technical, or multi-phase projects—like hospitals, labs, or manufacturing facilities—benefit from expert coordination and oversight
    • Beyond Your Team’s Core Expertise and/or Bandwidth
      If your team isn’t built to support design oversight and construction management, an OR fills the gap with seasoned guidance.
    • A Major Financial Investment
      When the stakes are high, an OR helps protect your budget, manage risk, and improve ROI.
    • On a Tight Timeline
      Aggressive schedules demand, proactive planning, and fast problem-solving—an OR keeps things moving.
    • Critical to Your Mission
      If the project impacts your growth or operations, an OR ensures it’s delivered with precision and control.
    • Competing with Core Business Priorities
      Let your team focus on what they do best while we manage the complexities of your capital project.

 

Contact us