Every construction project demands a multitude of assets. Capital funding. Raw materials. Manpower. Space.
One resource stands before all others, though – time.
Nothing grinds commercial projects to a halt faster than waiting idly for paperwork filings, commission approval or court orders to make their way through bureaucracy.
And nothing moves forward while contractors wait in line for the correct paperwork to be refiled because of mistakes.
But there is a simple solution.
Permit expeditors compile data, handle paperwork, file for permits, monitor each stage of the permit approval process and, ultimately, work toward a prompt outcome. Sometimes also referred to as building and zoning permit expeditors, they take the lead in throughout so you can remain on task.
By securing permits in a timely manner and working hand-in-hand with regulators, they allow contractors to remain focused. They specialize in understanding federal, state and local building codes and know how to advise their clients on how to get their projects through to approval in the quickest possible manner.
“The greatest project doesn’t progress past planning without the proper paperwork and approval,” said Steve Todd, founder and CEO of Express Permits. “It’s a building permit expediter's job to keep a plan on schedule and keep business moving.”
Permit expediters are experienced professionals adept at the ins and outs of City Hall. They work with clients in advance to collect everything correctly the first time so when they file the right paperwork, they follow the process through to the end, ensuring that their clients meet all steps. They have the knowledge to navigate varying e-filing systems and expedite any required revisions.
“Planning departments can be a maze of laws, bylaws, procedures and steps for any contractor, architect, or engineer,” Todd said. “Even with something as straightforward as electronic filing, It can almost feel like a conspiracy to keep you stuck in a loop as you wind your way through the process. It’s confusing.
“Time is money, and that’s why it’s often more efficient to spend a minimum amount of money at the beginning to hire a permit expediter and save the hassle – and possibly months – on the back end. A good permit expediter will tell you up front, ‘This project will take 60 days,’ and will get the job done in that time frame. Anyone who claims to be able to rush you through the process by cutting corners is selling you a bridge in Brooklyn.”
That’s why it’s important to pick the right one. Many people who call themselves “expediters” are simply filers, who for an hourly rate will file plans and walk away waiting for the process to run its course. Good expediters help their clients research, prepare and do it right the first time.
Call these tech-savvy expeditors “digital submittal specialists” because they have to navigate the needs of both their clients and the building departments.
And they do all this before offering a quote for their services. So whether your project is an all-in-one file or requires steps along the way, you know the target date. For example, Pittsburgh requires separate submittals for building, zoning, mechanical, plumbing, fire and health. So the project is not over until all approvals come back.
In Florida, however, the state requires a third-party signature verification and the plans cannot be broken apart because of the signature requirement.
This means everyone needs to submit their portion of the project separately with their own digital signature and third-party verification before anything can move ahead.
“A simple Adobe signature won’t cut it in Florida and places like that,” Todd said. “We work with clients all the time that didn’t realize that. Submitting forms with improper signatures can push a project back days or even weeks because you lose your place in line.”
To make matters even more complicated, some municipalities and building departments have outdated information on their websites. To remedy this, Express Permits has a 15-point questionnaire it asks of all planning departments on a regular basis to know the process before they hit send.
“A comprehensive permit consultant provides significant value in the digital age by collecting and organizing all required paperwork, providing a full review, analyzing all municipal codes and zoning amendments to prevent delays and managing the electronic submission process,” Todd said.
“The days of walking into a building department with a roll of paper and shaking hands have been significantly reduced. There are still areas that take - and even prefer - paper plans - so being able to navigate both routes of submittals is even more important than ever.
“It’s our job to make your job easy.”
No matter what size commercial project you are working on, partnering with a permitting service offers financial benefits and peace of mind when navigating regulations. With services in 48 states and parts of Canada, Express Permits has the experience you are looking for in a commercial permit expeditor. Call us at (877) 898-9988, email us at sales@expresspermits.net with any questions or fill out our contact form to get the ball rolling.
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