Final details still exist before church building is complete

You’ve developed the master plan, selected dedicated committee members, chosen a reputable architect, hired an experienced contractor and the construction project is nearly complete. Is there anything else you should do? Church building experts say absolutely.
   
Whether renovating or building a 400- or 4,000-seat facility, church leaders should consider several key points before making the final payment to the building contractor, professionals say.
   
–Request a completion checklist from the contractor and/or architect and conduct inspections of the facility.
   
“Contractors will give you a building schedule and the inspections should be done when the contractor tells you that the building is ready to be occupied,” said Gary Swafford, director of church planting and building services at the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM). “If you hired an architect, many times he will make sure the building is checked to meet codes.”
   
SBOM special worker Tommy Haralson recommends that churches hire an architect early in the building process to make sure that the building is constructed properly.
   
“The architect is a watchdog to see that the contractor builds the building according to specifications agreed upon by the church and the architect,” he said. 
   
He added that a certain number of inspections should have been conducted by the architect at the beginning and end of each stage in the building process as a form of check and balance.
   
This way, “when the general contractor says the project is complete, the architect can sign off that the contractor has built the building according to their specifications,” he noted.
   
Haralson advises churches to check the specifics of the construction agreement including size of rooms, finishes throughout the facility, lighting, heating, cooling and sound.
   
Victor Holmes, owner of A.V. Holmes Construction Company in Trussville, also recommends that churches use experienced advisers during the building process.
   
“I think where (some churches) get in trouble is not having an adviser, someone in the construction industry to help them through the project,” he said. “This person will review the work of the builder and make sure that the church gets what they are paying for. It makes the contractor accountable to the church.”
   
Holmes explained that this constitutes good stewardship of church resources.
   
“A lot of churches I work with work on a tight budget and don’t see it as an asset in their budget,” he said. “You are spending God’s money and you need to be a good steward and use some wisdom in spending it.”
   
–Check the inventory.
   
Church leaders should confirm that furnishings and equipment are placed as they requested before signing off on the building. “Be sure everything is where it ought to be and that equipment is installed according to manufacturers’ specifications,” Swafford said.
   
An architect can serve as a liaison between the church, contractor and suppliers. “The architect usually checks the building on your behalf and signs documents,” he said.
   
–Adjust the church insurance policy.
   
Church leaders should bring their insurance policy up-to-date to include the new building and its contents, Swafford noted.
   
–Put the initial people plan into action.
   
Before starting the building project, the church should have planned who would manage and populate the building and how it would occur, according to Swafford. “Now that the project is complete, actual occupation — transition into the building — expanding your ministry is now possible.”