Do you want to be successful?

Would you like to know a secret?

Here it is………….. “To be successful, hire successful people.”

Here is a true example on how to be successful in Land Development, without having to be in the land development business.

A couple owned a single family house on several acres of land in southern Massachusetts. They assumed that the vacant land had some value, but did not how to go about the process. They hired a real estate professional that was experienced in land development to make an initial determination to see if their assumption was correct.  When he confirmed their assumption, he suggested that they hire a civil engineering & land planning consultant. This couple knew the “secret” and selected an established civil engineering consultant who was not only experienced in land development projects, but also had a good reputation. Based on the advice of their civil engineering consultant, the couple first had an initial due-diligence study performed. This study established the multiple development constraints imposed by the shape of the property, wetlands, State Codes, local Zoning Laws and local municipal regulations. This study also resulted is a conceptual development plan with recommendations for a step by step approach for the permitting process. The couple now had a full understanding of the process to convert their vacant land into new residential house lots. They authorized their civil engineering consultant to proceed with this “step by step” process and converted their property into five new house lots plus a lot for their own house.

The couple knew that their success was strongly dependent upon the performance of their hired consultants. Knowing that there are no guarantees in a land development project, the couple understood that by using a team of successful professionals, they increased their chances for a successful project.

The same “secret” applies to the real estate professional and the civil engineering consultant. By working to make your client successful, you increase your chances to be successful.

Do you want to be successful?

Then you should not only hire successful people, but you should also do everything you can to be sure that they remain successful, since your success depends upon them.

A group of engineers were gathered at a social function when the conversation drifted toward the subject of architects.  As each engineer spoke, the tale got worse and the complaints continued with only negative issues forming the consensus of this biased group of engineers.  The more enlightened engineer in this gathering, not wanting to cause a problem, remained silent.

I can only imagine the same social situation with a group of architects, when the conversation turns to the subject of engineers.  They probably have their own horror stories about engineers.  How engineers fail to communicate, miss deadlines and treat architects poorly – especially in front of their client.

Sounds more like a cat and dog situation, with natural instincts forming the general rule.  Even with cats and dogs, there are exceptions to the rules though.

Since the early 1980’s, I have had the opportunity to provide engineering services as part of our clients’ project team with architects, landscape architects, structural engineers, other civil engineers, mechanical engineers, traffic engineers, and electrical engineers. 

Not having been previously exposed to prejudicial opinions about architects, I formed my own opinions and working/professional relationships with architects on these project teams.  While there are some architects that are not focused on what the site civil engineer is designing; there are also engineers who are clueless as to the responsibilities of the project architect.  The old motivational phrase notes – “There is no I in TEAM.”  Both the engineer and the architect need to leave his/her personal opinions at home when working as a professional on a project team. When you, as an engineer, understand the needs of the project architect, and work to support those needs – then THE TEAM is addressing both the technical requirements and the overall goal of our client.

Having had good professional relationships with the many architects that I have worked with, must put me in the “cat and dog” exception category.  By being the “exception” and closely working with architects to provide the services necessary to meet the demands of a multi-discipline project, including the last minute design changes, has allowed the architect to focus on other project issues and most importantly, added to the overall satisfaction of the client.

I don’t know who said, “You are only as good as your next job”, but the phrase is so true for architects and their supporting engineers. When that “next job” arrives, who will the architect call to be part of the design team?