A mixed-use project starting up is like a train leaving the station. Its momentum is huge. When one change order comes up, it all grinds to a halt. That momentum is hard to gain back.
When a build finally gets going, after years of planning, coordination, spending money, and hiring the right people, developers often expect problems to arise.
There is a justified wariness of having to spend money on change orders. It is common in this business to run into issues you wish could’ve been sorted out before breaking ground.
At Edison, we understand how expensive and time consuming this field is. This is where value engineering can help, and this is something Edison tries to integrate into every project we do.
What is Value Engineering?
The idea is to simply catch problems before they arise.
Catching a problem before it arrives is ideal. When we watch project managers embark on builds without involving a specialized multi-family electrician in the engineering phase, we know that they might run into issues later on. Getting plans solid and efficient on paper, before they are in the field, is essential to keeping the momentum going.
Finding the Issues
If a developer has a build plan already, which is common, and electricians arrive on the scene and find an issue, they have to submit a change order.
It is clear to all developers that change orders are costly and often delay projects. Unfortunately, they are incredibly common in this field.
Here’s what Edison does to minimize or even eliminate these. From the start, we look for potential issues. We can catch these future change orders, inform you of problems, and reframe your project to avoid the issue.
Often, initial plans contain designs meant to follow out-of-state codes that might not apply in the project’s city. Catching this before we begin can save thousands. Seattle City Light, Puget Sound Energy, and Snohomish PUD all have different sets of regulations. We are experts in them all.
For example, we often find extra breakers that aren’t required by code and add unnecessary costs. Making sure each breaker is necessary will ensure the project isn’t losing $60,000 to something that won’t make a difference and isn’t required.
Saving Costs, Down to the Details
Value engineering also ensures you know where your money is going. Edison breaks it down to the minor details. The further into the details of your project we go, the lower we can get your cost.
We have worked with Emerald City Engineers for over 10 years. There’s no guessing when we make these changes. Every single change is verified and officially reviewed.
We don’t cut corners. What we do cut are unnecessary costs for aspects of the build you aren’t required to have. We always follow code and are up to date with city codes across Washington. But staying within the codes doesn’t mean you have to spend outrageous amounts on small things.
With our experience in the electrical industry, we know alternatives to expensive materials such as:
•
Light fixtures: Hundreds of $100 light fixtures add up quickly. Giving you the option to swap toward more economical options, like a $10 fixture, can save money at the tail end of your project.
•
Cables: Using metal-clad cables instead of conduit doesn't change anything quality-wise and saves you hundreds of thousands in the long run.
•
Wall switches: Decora switches are expensive. While they may look pretty on the wall, opting for a toggle switch will save money. It’s important to realize there are usually 15,000 to 20,000 switches going into your build and that adds up quickly.
As we look through your plans, we will give you options. We don’t make money off change orders or costly materials. Edison’s work method is a true win-win. The goal is always to get your project done faster while saving you thousands on material costs.
Project success is always at the forefront of our decisions. That means we will give you honest bids, honest feedback, and look for ways to save everyone money and time. Building is a big investment. Edison likes to make it easier for developers. We always bid with an honest Guaranteed Maximum Price rather than a low-ball estimate. This means that most of the time, we finish under budget.
We believe in an honest return of credit when we delete parts of a plan.
When we make changes in the value engineering stage, we provide 100% return credit to your budget. Edison Electric will never understate what that item actually cost.
Get plans solid before shovels hit the ground.
When you request a bid, you will meet our team face-to-face so we both have an idea of what the project entails.
