Owner’s Representative

Your Luxury Home Construction Advocate in Chicago, the North Shore and Beyond

Building a custom home can be incredibly exciting. Day to day, however, working with contractors, designers, architects and local authorities can be overwhelming. Chances are, you already have a full day. And even if you don’t, navigating the construction process isn’t something you do all the time.

Fortunately, we know it inside and out.

That’s why, in addition to designing and building some of the most incredible homes in Chicago, Lake Geneva, Harbor Country Michigan, and the North Shore—the Pickell team can step in wherever you need us. We can design a home and hand over to another builder, act as a general contractor to translate your vision into reality, and provide high-touch supervision of your custom home build process.

What’s Does an Owner’s Representative Do?

As your on-the-ground advocate, the Pickell team can act as a general contractor, liaising directly with your architect, designer and subcontractors on your behalf.

Think of us as running interference—anything you need to decide will be shared with clear recommendations, and anything that doesn’t need your immediate attention will be addressed by a professional who intimately understands the construction process, local regulations, and your goals, process and timeline.

We won’t make decisions for you, but we will shield you from the endless stream of meetings and emails involved with a complex custom build.

Cost-Saving, Expert Support

Deep experience in luxury residential construction means that managing documentation and contractors is second nature to us. We can identify whether a proposed additional expense or change is warranted (or not), prevent overpayments, and if there’s a dispute, we can handle it objectively.

Because we know the industry and are always looking out for you, we can often head off problems before they occur, prevent costly misunderstandings, and ensure that all workmanship—even the parts you can’t see—meets a high quality standard. As a result, you don’t pay more than necessary for a superior build, and your project is more likely to move forward on the expected timeline.

Out-of-State Builds

An owner’s representative can be incredibly valuable if you don’t live near the site of your custom home build. The Pickell team will be your eyes and ears, checking in with you as needed without you having to visit the site. We have performed this service for Chicagoans building second homes in Lake Geneva or Harbor Country Michigan, families moving to the North Shore from overseas, and homeowners away on extended travel.

Of course, our services can be just as valuable if you’re building a home next door to your current property, too.

Additional Services

Beyond general construction management, Orren Pickell Building Group can assist you before, during and after the build.

• Pre-purchase advisory: Get us involved early for site selection, property positioning, budget and timeline review
• Concept and design support: Work with us to ensure that your plans and contracts meet your expectations and goals
• Drawing review and stamp: Our NCARB-certified staff can review drawings and specifications by your architects for compliance with local codes and regulations
• Contractor selection and contract negotiation: The Pickell team can shortlist qualified contractors and oversee appropriate contract execution based on our deep knowledge of the local market
• Budget and timeline management: By tracking every detail and carefully managing changes, we help ensure timely completion without unexpected overruns
• Challenging relationships: Count on objective representation and mediation if a project has reached an impasse
• Project completion and closeout: Get a second opinion on budget, schedule and quality control in preparation for move-in
• Luxury home building inspection: Thorough review of every interior and exterior detail ensures exceptional quality and peace of mind
• Post-delivery support: Detailed manuals and documentation, ongoing maintenance programs, and comprehensive administrative support makes it easier to live in and enjoy your new home

Bring in an Advocate

Take the headaches out of your custom home build. Just like a financial consultant or personal assistant, the Pickell team can manage the details so you can focus on the big picture. Contact us today.