An owner’s representative is an advocate on the owner’s side of the table, monitoring design intent, compliance, schedule and budget while the project moves. The role exists because owners build rarely and everyone else at the table builds constantly. That asymmetry is expensive, and it is the thing the role is designed to correct.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should an owner hire an owner's representative?
Before the design team is selected, ideally. The decisions with the largest cost consequences are made early, and that is where an advocate returns the most.
What does an owner's representative cost?
Typically a percentage of construction value or a fixed monthly fee. The comparison that matters is against a single avoided change order, not against zero.
Is an owner's representative the same as a construction manager?
No. A construction manager may hold trade contracts and carry delivery risk. An owner’s representative holds none and advises only, which is what keeps the advice independent.
Related Reading
- UP owner's representation
- ACROSS delivery method
- ACROSS property condition assessment