e ownerÆs concerns on his behalf.
Therefore, the first and most important decision to be made in a turnkey project is the choice of contractor. Contractors who have already successfully implemented similar projects are a good possibility, but the owner should meet with the candidates individually and ascertain whether they are easy to work with, communicate clearly, provide accurate information, and are available to spend full time on the project. If the project is highly technical or specialized, it is absolutely imperative that the contractor be a verified expert in the technology or specialty that the project will encompass. A genius that no one can work with is not a good choice, regardless of how creative he may be. People are the most important choice in any project, and the contractor in a turnkey project is a highly visible and intrinsically pivotal person. The owner needs to feel comfortable with him and confident that they can communicate effectively. Once a tentative decision has been made, the owner should talk to the contractorÆs prior clients to verify that he meets the criteria.
After the contractor has been selected, the beginning stages of project planning can take place. Although the owner is not responsible for planning or any phase of the project after contractor selection, the owner must be included in every phase of the project and be available to give feedback on the project as it shapes up. There are several reasons for this. First, regardless of how carefully the owner details his specifications to the contractor, there are invariably things that are misunderstood or omitted. Even when the owner has meticulously included every detail, he cannot be certain that the contractor understands the concept the way he intends until he sees how the contractor intends to implement it. Then the owner has the opportunity to indicate where misunderstanding has occurred and redirect the effort back on track. ...