Have you ever faced a project challenge that you either couldn't dedicate enough time to or didn't trust the person you assigned to solve it? Look no further! Summit Consultants offers a cost-effective solution. For a fraction of the price of hiring a potentially unqualified employee, we provide honest assessments and swift, reliable feedback on your challenges. If we can't assist you, we'll let you know upfront, saving you both time and money. 

Looking for a construction professional to conduct site inspections in the Greater Salt Lake area and Heber Valley region of Utah? Summit Consultants has you covered. Even if your project is in another state, we can assist you. Our office is conveniently located near Park City, Utah, just under 45 minutes from Salt Lake City International Airport. 

Many construction projects suffer from poorly developed schedules or unqualified personnel who lack the necessary training to plan, schedule, and manage complex projects effectively. Summit Consultants brings years of expertise in planning, developing, and controlling projects using Microsoft Project and Primavera Project Planner. Whether you need a review of an MS Project schedule, staff training in MS Project, or an unbiased assessment of a schedule's adequacy, we have the skills and experience to help. 

In the United States, over 70% of construction projects fail to meet their deadlines. The saying "time is money" isn't just a cliché; it's a stark reality. Delays in a project can lead to increased borrowing costs, higher overhead expenses, and even more severe consequences, such as losing a revenue-generating tenant or buyer. 

We've all experienced the frustration of hiring a general contractor or construction manager who struggles to maintain control over the project schedule. Each update brings new critical milestone dates (if they even provide milestones), and the completion date keeps getting pushed further out, leaving you unsure of what to do. Look no further! Summit Consultants can swiftly assess your situation, identify the underlying issues, and propose effective solutions to get your project back on track in no time. If necessary, we can build a separate schedule in Microsoft Project as a comparison to the schedules you're receiving from your GC/CM. 

Summit Consultants cannot provide legal advice, but we can help you assess your project and evaluate your contracting strategy and options. Whether your project is best suited for a design/build approach to mitigate risk, or you prefer to separate design from construction while leveraging the construction company's local knowledge and historical cost database, we can assist. Perhaps multiple prime agreements would best serve your project. Whatever the situation, Summit Consultants offers an unbiased view on the advantages and disadvantages of each contracting method, enabling you to make an informed decision. 

When seeking a third party to review design or construction agreements, hiring an attorney is an option. However, most attorneys focus on indemnity provisions, notice requirements, and claims language, which are important but may overlook business aspects. At Summit Consultants, we specialize in identifying potential pitfalls in contracts, such as unexpected charges to your project or separate fees for insurance and technology. With years of experience crafting construction agreements from standard AIA, DBIA, and proprietary forms, we can interpret them for you and advise when someone might be taking advantage of a situation. 

Have you ever received an estimate from a construction company and wondered if it's fair? Or perhaps you're under contract with a contractor and receive a change order request for something unexpected? Summit Consultants possesses the knowledge and expertise to evaluate estimates and change order requests at any level, ensuring that the contractor is providing a fair estimate. With our assistance, you can confidently determine whether the contractor's proposal is reasonable or not.  

Indirect costs can vary significantly depending on the complexity of the project. For more sophisticated projects, these costs can constitute 30% to 40% of the total expenses. In contrast, simpler projects may see indirect costs, including general conditions and fees, amounting to less than 12%. Determining what is fair and reasonable for your specific project type can be challenging. Summit Consultants are here to help you evaluate both indirect and direct costs, and we can even represent you in negotiations to ensure you get the best possible outcome. 

Change orders during construction can be incredibly frustrating and contentious. Once you're committed to a Construction Manager (CM) or General Contractor (GC), any scope changes—whether by choice or due to design alterations—become difficult to separate from the prime contract. Contractors often have a reputation for exploiting these situations, but it's usually their subcontractors who are the main culprits. In most commercial construction projects today, subcontractors perform over 75% of the work, and often it's closer to 90%. This high percentage of subcontracted work makes managing change orders even more challenging. 

Many construction managers and general contractors today fail to thoroughly vet change order requests from their subcontractors. This oversight often stems from either a lack of diligence or the desire to maintain favorable relationships with subcontractors who help secure low bids and win projects. Summit Consultants, with over 40 years of experience, offers unbiased and expert assistance to address this issue. We have witnessed how contractors and subcontractors exploit change orders to the detriment of developers and building owners. Our extensive knowledge of industry tactics enables us to mitigate the impact of these practices on your project.

Reviewing a general contractor's monthly AIA Application for Payment might seem straightforward, but it often requires hours of on-site inspection for large projects. The goal is to avoid overbilling by the contractor, which can lead to paying interest on a construction loan while the contractor uses your money to cover other expenses. Summit Consultants' team of experienced construction professionals can walk the project with the contractor's preliminary copy of the monthly application for payment to identify any overbilling. If the contractor is not financially stable, they might be using your funds for another project without your knowledge. 

Have you ever encountered a situation where your architect or engineer designed something, only to later discover that it's too costly to build? Or perhaps their designs lacked the necessary detail to ensure the project could be completed within budget and on schedule? These common issues can lead to significant setbacks and frustrations in the construction process. This is an all too often situation; unfortunately, the developer/owner is the entity who suffers the most when this happens.  

With over 40 years of design and build experience, we've learned a lot about various project types, from simple commercial projects to large-scale, highly technical plants. While we're not licensed architects or engineers, our expertise can help mitigate the risks of over-designing or under-designing. Engaging Summit Consultants early and retaining our assistance throughout the design, construction, and commissioning phases is key to achieving successful outcomes. 

Choosing the best project delivery method for your needs involves considering various factors, such as your risk tolerance, existing relationships with design professionals and construction companies, and your familiarity with the project type. Summit Consultants can assist you in selecting the most suitable approach, whether it's design/bid/build, construction management at risk with separate agreements for design professionals and construction managers, progressive design/build, or a hybrid method that fits your specific requirements. Each delivery method has its own set of advantages and disadvantages, and we are here to guide you through the decision-making process to ensure the success of your project.

Choosing a construction manager/general contractor (CM/GC) based solely on price is a risky gamble. While you might get lucky, you're likely taking unnecessary risks and liabilities. Do you know what to look for in a qualified CM/GC? You might be surprised that you don't. Many CM/GCs can present themselves well, but when you dig deeper, you may find that the company you're trusting to build your multi-million dollar facility is unqualified and possibly on the brink of bankruptcy. Summit Consultants can swiftly and efficiently review the financials, safety records, reputation with vendors and subcontractors, and the proposed team of prospective CM/GCs to ensure you make a well-informed decision. 

Need expert eyes on your commercial or industrial construction project? Summit Consultants has you covered. Whether it's a brief four-hour review or an extensive four-day assessment, we provide thorough site observations and develop detailed punch lists. Based near Park City, Utah, we serve the entire state and neighboring regions with ease. Our proximity to Salt Lake City International Airport allows us to reach most destinations swiftly, often without the need for connecting flights. Within 24 hours of our site visit, you'll receive an accurate, honest, and concise report. Let us help you ensure your project meets the highest standards.