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This past week, I was looking into the Fortune 500 companies of 2015 to guess who’d move up or down in 2016. While reviewing some of the annual reports from 2015, it revealed some interesting information for any business hoping to increase their revenue: top companies and concepts avoid single points of failure. Now, how does this relate to construction projects? Well, avoiding single points of failure in the development phase of your project can provide less stress for your team, your vendors, and your bottom line. We believe the cornerstone to any good development is government relations, that is, permit expediting. It is permit expediting that helps construction developments avoid single points of failure.

We Have Someone In-House

A single point of failure risk is your in-house permit expediter, I know I know the hair on your neck is probably bristling at this section. Let me respectfully say, in-house people are lovely, efficient, and incredibly high-functioning people. But, one in-house person may not be enough for your project especially if they have more than one person in your company they are working with. Here you encounter competing priorities and if your project is still some time out they may put it on the back burner until their more immediate fires are put out. Additionally, you may require a permit team and your poor in-house person, no matter how amazing they are, can’t clone themselves.

Let me say one more thing on this by providing an example. Netflix uses a Content Delivery Network (CDN) that was developed in-house that ensures efficient storage and streaming for their customers. Netflix also uses third-party CDN’s but relies primarily on their organic CDN for the bulk of their services and this poses a credible risk as they continue to grow globally. In other words, the more they try to protect themselves by creating internal processes the less they’re able to specialize in what they are selling the customer. Does Netflix want to become the world’s best CDN developer or consumer-facing content streamer?  So, I ask you: Do you want to become the best permit expediter in the business or the best developer or architect or brand?

What about Streamlined Approaches?

Of the recent buzz words in the development industry, one of the worst words is streamlined because streamlined is a fancy repackaged way of saying assembly line. Streamlining represents a credible single-point of failure risk. Streamlined approaches mean they use the same process for all the different types of projects that come across their conveyer belt…which would be fine if it weren’t for the decidedly nuanced nature of government relations. Permit expediters should be creative, efficient, and have a network of people to call upon. Let me give you a real-life example of a conversation between a client and a fancy “streamlined” project management concept AKA permit expediting service.

You: Where are we at in the permitting process? My construction start date is in 2 weeks and I don’t know what’s going on.

Streamliner: Well, we have to wait until the plan-checker gets back to us. I submitted 8 weeks ago and sent you an email with the review times.

You: I know but isn’t there a way to get things done faster than 8 weeks? You’re a permit expediter…

Streamliner: Usually, the plan-checker is good about getting back to me. I don’t know what their deal is this time around. But, as I said, I sent an email to you with the review times.

You: I read the email and that was 8 weeks ago. I hired you to be our permit expediter.

Streamliner: You hired me to navigate the process and I’ve done that. The process just takes time.

You: What happens if there is another round of corrections?

Streamliner: We’ll resubmit for you. Oh and I’ll send you an estimate for our services as the original estimate was for up to one resubmittal only.

You get the idea. They are worse than trying to cancel your internet and cable package with Comcast. That is not to say, that streamlined approaches don’t have their uses. For example, Permit Advisors offers streamlined approaches to national roll-outs, mall tenant improvements, and projects of that nature. However, our streamlined approach is for specific projects and after in-depth consultations with your team. Additionally, our streamlining is customer-facing which means you’re receiving information and feedback from one access point, but from the back-end, our team is approaching your project looking for solutions.

Implications

The implication of single points of failure is far reaching in time and money: the two things you never have enough on with a project. Like any revenue-producing enterprise, you want to avoid single-points of failure risks unless there is no way around them. With respect to permit expediting we know of at least one firm that will help you minimize these risks. Contact Permit Advisors Inc. today and we will provide consultation for you.

About Permit Advisors: Permit Advisors Inc. is a complete permit, entitlement consulting, and expediting firm based out of Beverly Hills, Ca. We go beyond just submitting plans, as you may have experienced with previous expediters. We have established strong relationships with officials of many municipalities and have numerous time and cost-saving strategies that we implement to efficiently complete projects. We aim to secure all permits as quickly as possible! We keep track of all the different aspects of the permitting process and make sure that the project is being given full attention by everyone on the team. We responsibly update clients and ensure that lines of communication are open between the Jurisdiction, the consultants and the client at all times. Contact us today for a consultation www.permitadvisors.com.