Site survey to shovel-ready: the pre-construction checklist
Everything that has to happen before a single shovel goes into the ground — and why rushing this stage is the most expensive shortcut in construction.
The weeks before construction starts decide how smoothly the months after it go. Here's what has to happen before a site is genuinely ready to break ground.
Survey and due diligence
A boundary and topographic survey, a soil test where warranted, and a review of the property's zoning and certificate of occupancy — the facts a design has to be built around, not discovered mid-project.
Design and engineering sign-off
Architectural and structural drawings need to be coordinated and stamped before filing, with every trade's rough-in locations resolved on paper instead of on site.
Permits and mobilization
Filed, approved, and scheduled — permits, insurance, site logistics, and a confirmed material lead-time list all close out before mobilization, so the first day on site is a construction day, not a scramble.
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