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Understand if the age your space warrants an Asbestos Abatement or Hazardous Materials study. This should be recognized prior to your lease and during your due diligence. These items have serious heath and cost implications, and authorities with jurisdiction, such as the air quality management agency or building department, will require an abatement survey and removal of their existence prior to issuance of a building permit for your remodel. Discuss asbestos with your real estate broker prior to leasing a space, and certainly discuss it with your general contractor.

Existing conditions pose huge budgetary and schedule issues to a new tenant or building owner. It’s very important that due diligence is conducted to determine what issues need to be addressed.

Please download ABG’s E Booklet Brochure here:   ABG Brochure

New Building 

In a new building situation, the accuracy of the civil and utility drawings is paramount. Typically, the largest risk is posed during the site work, and can also arise from utilities and off site items that need to be considered, correctly engineered and estimated, and installed both correctly and timely. The fact that we cannot see underground poses the biggest financial threat to the project. Careful pre-planning with all utility companies for locates of existing utilities and correct civil drawings with proper drainage and flow considerations are just a few concerns.  In addition, the contracting team should be diligent in dust mitigation, knowing the process, timing, and requirements of air quality management authorities, and SWPP (Storm Water Pollution Prevention) plans to mitigate sediment from your site before it pollutes the environment.

For more information on Your Little Black Book of Building Basics, please contact us. It is complimentary to ABG customers or available on amazon.com atwww.amazon.com/Your-Little-Black-Building-Basics/dp/0615352898/ref=sr_1_2

Landlord Rules

As a tenant, your lease agreement should include an exhibit attached or language therein that communicates the landlord’s rules for construction operations. It is imperative that a copy of this document be given to the general contractor that will build out your tenant improvement, and your general contractor should include these rules in all of their subcontract agreements so that every company involved in your project will understand the landlord’s rules.  Typical Landlord rules should spell out on-site working hours, staging areas, trash dumpster locations, security contact information, daily clean up of construction operations, any construction security or damage deposit requirements, permit requirements, any landlord required subcontractors (typically fire alarm and fire sprinkler subcontractors), and, most importantly, insurance requirements for on-site operations. Always check with the landlord to verify whether or not they are carrying a builder’s risk policy for the entire building. We will expand on the importance of this policy under Insurance. (later chapter)

For more information on Your Little Black Book of Building Basics, please contact us. It is complimentary to ABG customers or available on amazon.com atwww.amazon.com/Your-Little-Black-Building-Basics/dp/0615352898/ref=sr_1_2