Choosing Quality Church Building Professionals

Heather Caudill

Agenda

• Introduction• Overview of Resources in Development• Typical Stages of Development Process• Overview of Key Players on Development

Team• Key Considerations when Selecting

Development Team Members• FAQs

Church Building: A Resource Manual for UCC Congregations Working with the Church Building

and Loan Fund• Overview of Development Process• Roles and Responsibilities of the Development Team• Key Considerations for Selecting the Professionals• How to Create a Projected Income and Expense Budget• Guidance on How to Prepare a Development Budget• Different Types of Construction Contracts and Advantages of

Each• Guidelines on How to Structure Payments• Suggestions to Ensure a Smoother Development Process

Typical Development Process

Pre-Development

Goal Setting

Planning

Coordination

Construction

Implementation

Coordination

Monitoring

Close-Out

Coordination

Completion

Conversion

Key Roles on Development TeamMember Role

Developer An individual, company, or organization that seeks to transform land or buildings from one use to another. In this case, the congregation is the developer.

Development Consultant

Provide technical assistance and support to congregations in navigating the complex church development process

Project Attorney A legal professional with real estate experience whose primary responsibility to ensure that the contractual agreements you enter into clearly state the roles and responsibilities of each professional or company, the total payment amount, the payment schedule, the project schedule and the process and procedure for resolving project and contractual issues

Project Architect Designs a building that meets the church’s vision and financial resources and to ensure that the project is in compliance with all federal, state and local regulations

General Contractor/Builder

The role of the GC is to build your project according to the contractual agreement entered into by the congregation.

Getting Started

We recommend that churches select a small (3-4 person) committee to support in a church building initiative.

Look for church members with real estate related experience, a finance background, contracts background, etc., and have time to dedicate to the project

We recommend that congregations who do not have experience or resources to oversee the church development process internally should consider hiring a development consultant.

Development Consultant

A development consultant’s role can include…• providing general guidance during the

development process • assistance in the selection of development

professionals, • developing and monitoring the project budget• reviewing plans, scopes of work and legal

documents on behalf of the congregation

Project Attorney

The project attorney will ensure that all of your congregation is legally protected through all phases of the development project.

Project Architect

Sample activities include…• assisting with land selection• developing a site plan• creating preliminary plans• preparing full build plans • performing bid review• monitoring construction process and

adherence to specifications, etc.

General Contractor/BuilderThe GC’s role is to plan, coordinate and implement all of the work, people and material resources to build your church while ensuring that the legal and contractual methods, materials, techniques and schedules are adhered to.

Additional roles include:• filing all paperwork (including applications for building permits and licenses, and obtaining

final approvals including the Certificate of Occupancy); • securing the property; • providing temporary utilities on site; • hiring, supervising, managing and payroll for personnel on-site; • providing site surveying and engineering; disposing or recycling construction waste; • purchasing building materials and coordinating delivery; • monitoring schedules and cash flow and maintaining accurate records,• ensuring the timely scheduling and passing of inspections; • preparing monthly “requisitions” for payment; and notifying the owner and architect of

any relevant issues that will impact the project cost or schedule

Development Consultant – What to look for?

Project Management ExperienceProject Budgeting Experience Project Scheduling ExperienceKnowledge of Local Approval Processes, Costs and

TimelinesExperience Coordinating and Leading a Development

Team

Look for referrals from church members, your project attorney, or CBLF.

Project Attorney – What to look for?All practicing Attorneys must hold a professional degree and are required to have passed the Bar exam. Some resources when looking.. Look for referrals from church members, other project team members, or CBLF. Confirm licensure through the Law and Technology Resources for Legal

Professionals website If you have not identified an attorney, a good place to start is with the American

Bar Association (ABA), which has chapters in every state and can help you find an attorney that is licensed and qualified

Criteria should include: Real Estate Experience Contracts Experience Size of the Firm References

Project Architect – What to look for?All practicing Architects must hold a professional degree and are required to have passed the Architect Registration Examination (ARE). Some hold certifications from a national organization such as the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) or the American Institute of Architects (AIA). Look for referrals from church members, your project attorney, or CBLF. Confirm licensure through the National Council of Architectural Registration

Boards (NCARB) NCARB and AIA also provide a list of its certified architects).

Criteria should include: Experience on Similar Projects Knowledge of Local Building Code and Zoning Laws In-house Capacity or Seasoned Team of Professionals Site Visits and References Insurance

General Contractor – What to look for?There are no national licensing requirements for General Contractors. However, each state and/or locality has their own licensing requirements.

Look for referrals from church members, your project attorney, or CBLF. Links to each state’s requirements can be found at the Contractor’s License Reference

Site. You will be redirected to the states licensing website, which provides detail on licensing requirements in the state and access to a database of approved contractors.

Criteria should include: Bidding vs. Sole Source Contracts Experience in Church Building Projects Capacity Insurance Site Visits and References New Construction vs. Rehabilitation

Questions, Concerns, Celebrations!