Partner Relations: We are all in this together

Often we work with other companies who do the same type of work we do (i.e., our “partners”). In our business, the work can come in waves. Some waves are small and fast... several small projects all at once. Other times, waves are huge, or one very large project. Working as a subcontractor is no stranger to us.

Some of the companies are pretty small, even a one man business. From time to time, stuff happens and a little help is needed. We were privileged to help out one of our partners recently when a medical issue occurred. A seemingly small issue like this, is a huge issue for a one man operation. We have worked with this particular office on many projects and had established a wonderful win-win working relationship. We have trust, respect, and admiration for one another.

Things were pretty hectic, it was over the Christmas/New Year’s holiday, and we had 4 or 5 jobs in house and one was a biggie. One of the projects we were sharing with our partner and we had five parts of the project and he had three. Unfortunately, he had to have an emergency surgery and was laid up when he was supposed to be working on his three parts of the project. Needless to say, he couldn't work. It looked highly likely that the project would be in jeopardy of being finished late if some relief was not found.

One of our worst nightmares is having a project going past a due date… and we knew our partner felt the same. Our team huddled around, we checked out our present work schedule and it looked bleak, we were committed to the max. After much soul-searching, problem-solving, and much checking and rearranging of our personal commitments during the holidays, we found time to help. So, we called him up and offered our assistance... and he happily accepted.

The added work really taxed our team, but it was sooo worth it. The sense of accomplishment and “feel goods” we got for helping a fellow partner were just wonderful. After all, isn't that what partners are for?

What did we learn from this experience?

That you have to be proactive. Some people will not ask for help or do not like to ask for help, so it may be up to you to offer your help when you see they have a need. And likely your offer of help will be extremely welcome.

You need to be aware of what is going on with your partners. If you stay in good communication and listen to your partners, you are more able to access their needs.

You need to consult with your team. If you are thinking about taking on more work, when your team is already taxed, you should consult with your team to see if they have time to help and are willing to help, because ultimately the burden will be theirs. In addition, your team will be more likely to support a decision they helped make.

Author: Shirley Nigro and Pamela S. Stevens

Good Partners are Hard to Find

Mutual respect, open communication and accountability in the construction industry, why not?

Let’s get together. By partnering with the Nigro Firm you can have access to an experienced third-party construction document coordination review team who can catch many costly errors before you go to bid or break ground.

What would it be like to work with a clean set of construction documents? We’ve heard that it is a refreshing and pleasant experience. Give us a call, we can tell you how you can get the most accurate drawings possible.

Good Partners are Hard to Find

We are looking for new partners and we think you just might be a match. We are interested in creating reciprocally beneficial partnerships and would like to extend a hello to you and invite you to join with us. We would be delighted to be able to help you attain a superior set of construction drawings so you can create tighter bids, reduce change orders, have an arsenal for litigation, and make your clients happy. Not to mention, you might actually be able to build the building the designers had in mind without running yourself ragged from filling out RFI forms and chasing down the architect.

For the first time in 17 years the
Nigro Firm is offering a partnership invitation to contractors, design build teams and construction and preconstruction companies.

So how does a partnership with the Nigro Firm work?

Well, it begins with a conversation. We can provide many types of reviews, based on what you need as well as your budget, quality concerns and time restraints. We understand that every project is different, so why shouldn’t every review be different too? So, like all good relationships, we begin with a good conversation. And if you like what you hear and we like what we hear, we are sure to have a good working relationship ahead of us.

What is like to have the Nigro Firm on your team?

We understand the importance of trust and accountability when it comes to being a good partner. So we will always:

• Complete our work on time Ask for clarification if we need it
• Never take on more work than we can finish on time
• Provide consistent and dependable work
• Try to act in the best interest of everyone involved
• Produce accurate reviews

Give us a call and let the conversation begin or email us at bdev@nigrofirm.com.

The Nigro Firm performs construction document coordination reviews, which are sometimes referred to as constructability reviews, interdisciplinary coordination reviews or cross check reviews. For more information see Our Services.

Wondering what kind of projects we review, see our Abbreviated Project List.