Commercial real estate developers are always looking for an edge in the market. That’s why hiring a civil engineer is such a smart move. Civil engineers can help provide value to commercial development teams in a number of ways, from profiling potential sites to assisting with zoning and permitting. They can also be instrumental in the design and construction of your project.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss some of the factors you should consider when choosing a civil engineer for your next commercial real estate development project. We’ll also provide some questions you can ask during the interview process to help you find the right fit for your team.
Does Your Project Need A Civil Engineer?
Before diving into the hiring process, it’s important to determine if your project needs a civil engineer. Not every commercial real estate development project requires the expertise of a civil engineer.
For example, if you’re simply renovating an existing space, you probably won’t need to bring on a civil engineer. But if you’re developing a new site or building from scratch, then you’ll definitely want to consider working with one.
Civil engineers are often involved in land-use planning and consulting, site selection and feasibility studies, environmental impact assessments, zoning and permitting, traffic analysis, and construction management. If any of these areas are relevant to your project, then it’s likely that you’ll need to hire a civil engineer.
How A Civil Engineer Can Provide Value To Your Project
Now that we’ve established that you need a civil engineer for your project, let’s discuss some of how they can provide value.
As we mentioned before, civil engineers are often involved in land-use planning and consulting. This means that they can help you choose the right site for your development project. They’ll take into account a number of factors, such as traffic patterns, zoning regulations, environmental concerns, and more.
In addition to helping you select the perfect site for your project, civil engineers can also assist with zoning and permitting. They’ll be familiar with the local regulations and can help ensure that your project is in compliance. This will save you a lot of time and headaches down the road.
More importantly, civil engineers help commercial development teams get the most money out of a piece of land while keeping costs as low as possible. One example is using a civil engineer to profile potential sites. This can help developers avoid costly mistakes, like buying a property with too much environmental contamination or buying a piece of land in an area with poor soil.
Another way civil engineers provide value is by helping with the design and construction of your project. They’ll work closely with the architect to create a functional and efficient design. Once the construction phase begins, they’ll be responsible for overseeing the work and ensuring that it meets all safety standards.
Finally, civil engineers can help commercial development teams save money by finding ways to improve efficiency and reduce waste. For example, they might suggest using recycled materials or installing solar panels to power the site.
What to Look for When Hiring A Civil Engineer
Now that you know you need to hire a civil engineer and how they can provide value to your project, it’s time to start looking for the right one. Here are some factors you should consider when making your decision:
Land-use knowledge: Does the civil engineer thoroughly understand land-use regulations in your area? This is critical, as they’ll need to be familiar with the zoning requirements for your project.
Experience: How much experience does the civil engineer have? You’ll want to look for someone who has previously worked on similar projects. Ideally, they should have at least five years of experience.
Organization: Is the civil engineer well-organized and detail-oriented? This is important as they’ll need to keep track of a lot of information during the project.
Creativity: Can the civil engineer think outside the box? This is helpful as they’ll need to develop innovative solutions to problems arising during the project.
Support staff: Does the civil engineer have a team of support staff? This can be beneficial, as they’ll be able to handle more tasks and free up your time.
What Questions To Ask When Interviewing A Civil Engineer
Once you’ve narrowed down your list of potential candidates, it’s time to start interviewing them. Here are some questions you should ask:
- What experience do you have with land-use planning?
- How familiar are you with the zoning regulations in our area?
- What type of projects have you worked on in the past?
- How did you handle any problems that arose during those projects?
- What do you think is the most important factor to consider when choosing a site for a development project?
- What are some ways we can improve efficiency and reduce costs during the project?
- Can you provide a list of references?
What Are Some Red Flags To Watch For?
Now that you know what to look for when hiring a civil engineer and what questions to ask, there are a few red flags you should be aware of. These include:
- The civil engineer doesn’t have any experience with land-use planning.
- The civil engineer is unfamiliar with the zoning regulations in your area.
- The civil engineer doesn’t have any references.
In Closing
Hiring the right civil engineer is essential to the success of your commercial real estate development project. Finding someone with the necessary skills, experience, and creativity will set your project up for success.
Just be sure to ask lots of questions during the interview process and make sure you’re comfortable with their answers before making your final decision. With the right civil engineer on your team, you’ll be well on your way to completing a successful development project.
If you’re looking for a civil engineer for your next project, we’d love to help. Schedule a call with us today!
