What Is a Pencil Requisition? A Worked Construction Payment Example
A pencil requisition is a preliminary payment application circulated for review before the formal application is submitted. Its purpose is to expose disputed quantities, progress percentages and missing backup while the figures can still be corrected. It is a review step, not a promise that a lender will fund the amount. The contract and lender’s […]
Townhome Construction Budget: The Line Items First-Time Houston Developers Leave Out
Written by Epex Consulting Short answer: A first-time townhome construction budget usually has the builder’s number right and everything around it wrong. The line items that get left out are rarely framing or roofing. They are utility taps and impact fees, fire-rated walls between units, drainage and detention, shared site costs that nobody agreed how […]
Houston Permit Timelines: What Actually Sets the Clock (and What a Delay Costs You)
Short answer: There is no single Houston permit timeline. The time from “plans done” to “permit in hand” is set by a chain of approvals: confirming who has jurisdiction, platting if the site needs it, a utility capacity letter, a multi-discipline plan review that usually runs more than one round of corrections, then trade permits, […]
The Schedule-of-Values Games Contractors Play on Draws (and How Texas Owners Catch Them)
Short answer: A construction schedule of values breaks the contract sum into billable line items, and every draw you fund is measured against it. Contractors can pull cash ahead of the work in five common ways: front-loading early lines, padding mobilization and general conditions, overbilling stored materials, hiding progress in vague lump lines and over-claiming […]
What a Multifamily Feasibility Study Actually Covers in Texas (and What It Can’t Tell You)
Short answer: A multifamily feasibility study in Texas tests one development program, on one site, at one moment, against the four things that can kill it: the market, the site, the cost and the capital stack. It is not a market study, an appraisal or your pro forma, and it cannot predict the market, guarantee […]
Texas Commercial Construction Schedule Risk: 8 Early-Warning Metrics Owners Should Track
Track Texas commercial schedule risk with 8 owner-side metrics that flag delays early across Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin, San Antonio, and beyond.
Texas Commercial Due Diligence: 12 Smart Checks Before You Build or Buy
Use this Texas commercial due diligence checklist to verify site, permits, budget, financing, schedule, and risks before you build or buy.
Texas Commercial Construction Budget Variance: 9 Controls Before Costs Drift
Use this Texas commercial budget variance checklist to catch overruns early, protect cash flow, and keep Texas commercial projects on track.
Texas Construction Contingency: 5 Smart Rules to Protect Your Budget
A practical Texas construction contingency guide for commercial owners: what to carry, when to release it, and how to prevent hidden scope from becoming a cash-flow problem.
How to Review a Commercial Contractor Proposal Before Signing
Before you sign a commercial contractor proposal, compare the scope, exclusions, allowances, schedule, and payment terms—not just the bottom-line price. What to review first in a commercial contractor proposal Scope and drawings. Confirm every trade, finish, permit responsibility, utility tie-in, and owner-supplied item is listed. Exclusions. Ask what is missing and price it before comparing […]