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The initial phases of a construction project are a lot like dating. Everyone tries to bring their A-game to make the best first impression. But putting on a facade in the early stages of a relationship can lead to trouble in paradise, and the same holds true for team members during preconstruction. 

While it’s never easy to have tough conversations, Mike Buonincontra, Senior Estimator at C.E. Floyd, doesn’t shy away from them, especially out of the gate. He believes transparency and honesty make his A-game so strong — earning the respect and trust of his clients, not to mention repeat business.

Mike’s recent work on a $50 million renovation for LiveWell, a senior living community specializing in dementia care in Plantsville, CT, is the perfect example of this commitment. The project team faced some big challenges that required an even bigger degree of transparency and “straight talk” from Mike, who was tasked with keeping the project on track, when so much in the industry (and the world) was going off track thanks to a global pandemic. Fortunately, Mike and LiveWell already had a strong foundation of trust, as the owner’s representative, OnePoint, had specifically recommended Mike as the estimator for the job based on their partnership with him on a successful project for McLean, a retirement community in Simsbury, CT.

The timing of the project brought challenges far beyond what anyone could have predicted, as the pandemic impacted just about every aspect of the planning and preparation work. “We were awarded the LiveWell project two months after COVID hit,” Mike explained. “For the first 6-8 months on the job, we couldn’t even get on the campus.”

And from there on, it didn’t get easier. Ongoing supply chain issues and economic inflation threw multiple curve balls into the estimating process. “Each time we would submit a number, there would be drastic increases a couple of months later. Every meeting started off with another tough conversation, and we had to work to help the client understand the situation. It simply wasn’t a time for ‘puppies and rainbows,’ but rather, honest, clear straight talk about the options and path forward. We had extensive budget review meetings to discuss every detail — right down to $150 grab bars, which on a project of this scale, you’d rarely even consider.”

So Mike’s team implemented comprehensive budget tracking, which summarized potential increases or decreases every two weeks, keeping the client continuously informed of design changes, material increases, and related variables between every budget review meeting. “Having this increased communication helped us convey all changes as they occurred. Of course, lumber and commodities like copper and aluminum were all going up in cost, but even items as simple as the plastic for electrical wall boxes now had four month lead times. So did roofing, which is never something we had to worry about in the past.”

While this level of transparency requires long hours and a critical eye on the details, Mike’s A-game never wavered — even when he had to tackle an addendum delivered just days before TWO family weddings. “Fortunately, one of the reasons my wife loves me is my commitment to the things I’m passionate about — even when it drives her crazy! It was all hands on deck to make sure we hit the deadline and to avoid any third quarter financing increases.”

Mike’s commitment to honesty, communication, and bringing his A-game throughout every step of the LiveWell preconstruction ensured the client was in a great place to successfully move forward despite the challenges. It’s safe to say, this is one relationship that’s going to stand the test of time! 

Contact us to learn more about how we can help you with your next construction project.

This case study was inspired by Mike’s core value nomination for Never Shirk.