ADVOCATE-RCA ABOUT

WE ARE THE OWNER'S ADVOCATE

Building or remodeling your home requires the coordination of a network of professionals including architects, contractors, engineers, and lenders. Unfortunately, the interests of these professionals are not always directly aligned with those of homeowners. At ADVOCATE, we specialize in representing homeowners to ensure their interests are directly aligned with a team of experienced building professionals.

If an owner is unfamiliar with the homebuilding or remodel process, or doesn't have the time to closely manage a construction project, the potential for cost overruns and disputes greatly increases.

This is compounded if the owner does not engage in a competitive bidding process. Having ADVOCATE involved not only helps to precisely identify, document and reduce the costs involved in the process, but the potential for disputes and delays.

We advocate for transparency to the homeowners and accountability by building professionals. We are singularly focused on streamlining the homebuilding process to protect homeowners’ interests and realizing their vision for their homes.

THE ADVOCATE WAY

All contractors and service providers commit to the following:

Duty of loyalty to the Owner
Duty of candor and integrity to the Owner
Duty to optimize value for the Owner
Duty of transparency to the Owner in project management and execution
Duty to disclose to the Owner all conflicts of interest with proposed and contracted project participants
Duty to cooperate with project participants to further the Owner’s interests

OPTIMIZE RELATIONSHIP WITH OWNERS

Building a new home or undertaking a significant remodel is a daunting task and frequently the largest single expenditure of a homeowner’s life. Oftentimes, the owner does not have the experience set or time necessary to effectively manage a building project. Securing an owner-advocate to organize and shepherd the building process, loyal to only to the homeowner, is vital to protecting a homeowners’ interests.

At ADVOCATE, we specialize in bridging the knowledge gap between the owner and professional service providers. We simplify the building process by identifying and coordinating the team of architects, contractors, engineers, and lenders that will turn your vision into reality. We then manage the bid process and contract negotiations to obtain the most cost-effective build without impacting quality. Our goal is to protect your investment and vision, and achieve the highest quality outcome at the lowest possible price.

OPTIMIZE RELATIONSHIP WITH ARCHITECTS

The project architect is frequently the first stop for an owner. Oftentimes, an owner looks to the architect to identify a general contractor. If there is a dispute between the owner and the general contractor during the relationship, it can reflect poorly on the architect and damage relationships with both parties.

Through ADVOCATE’s involvement, the selection of the general contractor is simplified, with the input and suggestions of the architect, and the potential for dispute is greatly reduced. ADVOCATE’s processes and procedures also ensure that any changes to the plans are done in a timely and orderly fashion with the architects input, minimizing inefficient and costly revisions.

OPTIMIZE RELATIONSHIP WITH CONTRACTORS

ADVOCATE’s bid process focuses on transparency, identifying bid categories with precision, and tailoring work items to the owner’s preferences (allowances). Each bidder plays on a level field. All bids are “apples to apples.” Contractors no longer deal with other contractors who knowingly omit elements they intend to later request by change order. Contractors and homeowners achieve predictability, which in turn creates efficiencies that reduce build time and costs.

OPTIMIZE RELATIONSHIP WITH LENDERS

Lenders underwrite their construction lending based on the proposed value of the improvements being made. If the proposed costs to be financed are not consistent with the true market costs, the underwriting decision has increased risk.