Any cost savings gained in the preconstruction reviews go back to the owner. For instance, if the CM discovers an error in the specs during the time subcontractors are putting together their bids, he can alert them immediately. The CM s goal is to try and buy a complete scope of work at the best time within a competitive environment. Noeth says construction management also gives the board more control over subcontractors. Normally, in a construction project, the board has no meaningful input into subcontractor selection or management.
CM provides the board with a more significant voice.
For example, the Fulton County board was dissatisfied with the work a roofing subcontractor was doing on a new elementary school. The CM told the roofer he would be held to very stringent performance criteria. The roofer was unwilling to comply, and the CM allowed him to back out of the contract. A more qualified sub was hired at no additional cost to the board. The old ways that we used in construction tended to breed adversarial relationships and conflicts.