Building It All While Managing Risk with PJ Antonik

Prioritize risk management in your business model; while spec building can be lucrative, market volatility and high carry costs can quickly erode profits, making client-funded custom builds a more secure option.

Develop robust pro formas and budgets for all projects, especially complex ones like island builds, factoring in 'island tax' for increased costs due to logistics, labor, and materials.

Streamline your client communication and decision-making processes; PJ's integrated design approach minimizes delays by controlling selections and information flow, which is crucial for project efficiency.

Embrace constraints (budget, time, location) as drivers for creativity and efficiency; working on an island, for example, forces optimized scheduling and resource management.

Be transparent and realistic with clients about project costs and potential fluctuations; clearly define what's included in fixed pricing and outline allowances to manage expectations and avoid disputes over change orders.

Don't undervalue your expertise; ensure your pricing adequately reflects your professional worth, experience, and the significant responsibilities you bear in managing complex construction projects.

Invest in clear, written documentation for all project changes; specifically, record how change orders impact timelines to manage client expectations and provide a clear reference point if schedule delays arise.