Time is a crucial factor as far as commercial remodels are concerned. The tenants waiting for the completion of remodel construction may not be very patient.
Commercial units can miss year-round occupancy because of derailed remodel construction caused by delayed permit acquisition.
Clear building codes for which permits must be issued closely regulate all commercial and residential building remodel constructions.
Due to the intricate process of permit acquisition, the process can sometimes take longer than anticipated, something that can affect the lead times for the remodel construction.
In line with this understanding, this article gives a guideline for fast-tracking permit acquisition for commercial remodel works.
Maintain Open Communication
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Effective communication, and not just any communication type, is crucial in the fast-tracking of permits. Effective communication entails openness in all aspects of the application and acquisition of permits. When asked for particular information, be ready to provide clear and honest answers. The same goes with documents; be sure to disclose all the necessary information that pertains the project. Open communication assures the approving committee that nothing fishy is going on and they will be more than willing to approve your application within the stipulated timeline.
Prepare Adequately
Adequate preparation is critical to the speedy application review and permit acquisition. This entails knowing what is required of you and having all the necessary documents and fees at hand. If something is missing from the application, yours will be put aside and the case revisited when you update the documents. To prevent this kind of delay, familiarize yourself with the requirements and prepare the documents accordingly.
Hire an Expeditor
We initially noted that permit acquisition is an intricate and time-intensive process. Without prior knowledge of requirements and timelines, the process can take longer than anticipated. This means taking time away from your busy schedule and traversing many municipal offices. Fortunately, you can bypass all these activities by hiring an expeditor for this task. Their familiarity with the process and approving officials can reduce this lead time by almost a half. This will spare you lots of time so that you can focus on the actual remodel construction.
Pay for Expedited Review
Although the lead times for review and permit approval are similar, there still exists an opportunity for expedited review services. However, this service is only meant for urgent cases and comes at an additional fee. If time is of the essence and you are willing to incur the extra cost, this is a worthwhile investment.
Leverage on Online Tools
Most municipalities across the nation have now digitized almost all their services including permit applications. The system accepts applications, payments, and their status. With the right documents and payments, the committee retreats to review your application. Upon concluding, the committee uploads the verdict of the application on the same platform. Unlike physical applications, online applications are much quicker since the process of uploading documents is also faster. Besides, the platform is available 24/7.
Work with Experienced Building Professionals
Working with highly extensively experienced building professionals can help expedite permit acquisition lead times. Qualified and experienced building professionals are familiar with the prevailing local laws. They will hence help you avoid mistakes that can hinder you from passing the inspections and ultimately derail the permit approval.
Establish a Rapport with the Approval Officials
Even when the applications are done online, you should first visit the municipal offices to familiarize yourself with the officials and the prevailing federal and state laws. The visits should also equip you with enough knowledge of the process and the expected lead times. The rapport established can help you navigate the long intricate process by providing guidance and resolving issues more expeditiously.
Maintain Follow-Up
Filing the application and submitting the right documents followed by payment for the same is just the start of the process. You have to invest in the process by closely following up with the application. Even with the stipulated timelines, your application can still get approved earlier than expected. Without follow-up, you can remain unaware and derail your commercial remodel construction. Both physical and online methods provide a designated channel for follow-ups
By faithfully following the above-discussed hacks, permit approval does not have to be the long and intricate process that we know. Even as you aspire to reduce the timelines, making the application ahead of time can spare the inconveniences that might arise during the vetting and approval time. It is good to note that you can skip this hassle by hiring the right contractors.
