What a development consultant does, and when you need one
Owners often hire an architect, a planner and a builder separately, then spend a year coordinating them. A development consultant runs the line between them.
Who does what
- Architect or designer: the drawings. On ADB projects, co-founder Yawar Siddiqui, OAA, a licensed architect, stands behind the design work.
- Planner: the zoning case and the planning application.
- Builder and trades: the construction.
- Development consultant: the line through all of them: feasibility, the approvals, the permit, the tender and the build schedule, with one report to the owner.
When you need one
- You own or are buying land and are not sure what it allows.
- The project needs approvals before the permit: a severance, a variance or a rezoning.
- You want trades priced against the same drawings so you compare like with like.
- You live away from the site and need someone accountable on the schedule.
How ADB charges
A fixed fee of 10% of the proposed construction cost of the build area, set in the consulting agreement and paid in scheduled instalments across three stages. It does not rise if construction costs more. Work out the fee.