News & Insights
Photo courtesy of: Greg Land
Mo Saleem on catching extra costs before they become expensive surprises
Custom finishes get plenty of attention in a hotel renovation. What’s behind the walls can have just as much influence on the bill. We sat down with Mo Saleem, project manager at PMA, part of B&D, to talk about keeping owners informed as costs change and making sure an ambitious design fits the budget.
B&D: Tell us about your background and what brought you to PMA.
Mo Saleem: I’m a civil engineer by training, and I’ve spent the past eight years in construction, from hospitality projects in India to luxury hotel developments and renovations in the U.S. I enjoyed the technical work, but I became increasingly interested in how the whole project comes together: how a design gets built, what it costs and how decisions affect the schedule. I hadn’t planned to specialize in hospitality, but I grew to enjoy turning a designer’s vision into a place guests will experience. That’s what brought me to PMA. As an owner’s representative, I get to stay involved from planning through construction, helping owners weigh their options and asking questions before they commit to a decision.
B&D: What does cost discipline look like day-to-day?
MS: Cost discipline means knowing what we’ve committed to spend, what costs are still coming and how much we’ve set aside for surprises. Staying close to the construction work helps me catch potential costs early. Before we commit to a change, I want to understand what’s driving it. Did the design change? Did we discover something the drawings missed? Is it required by code, or is it something the owner wants? Then I check whether the proposed price makes sense, using industry pricing and competitive bids where appropriate. The owner needs to understand where the budget stands and what the next decision will mean for it.
B&D: How do you track potential change orders so owners always know where the budget stands?
MS: I work closely with contractors to identify possible changes before a formal proposal arrives. As soon as an issue comes up, I enter an estimated cost in our potential change order log rather than waiting for a final price. The log distinguishes between changes we’re still investigating, those awaiting approval and those we’ve approved or rejected. We also track how much money remains available for unexpected costs. For each change, I review why it’s needed, check the proposed work and pricing, and look for alternatives or opportunities to negotiate. Regular updates give the owner a picture of how those costs add up and time to make decisions before they affect the budget or schedule.
B&D: On a design-heavy project, where do costs most often climb, and how do you get ahead of it?
MS: Unknown building conditions are a big one. You don’t always know what’s behind the walls or whether the existing drawings are accurate. We also need to understand which code upgrades the renovation will require. Another source of added cost is drawings that don’t agree with one another, such as architectural plans that conflict with the plumbing or electrical plans. Getting the designers and an experienced contractor together to review the building and drawings before construction helps catch those problems. With high-end finishes and custom details, we need to understand what it’ll take to order and install them early enough to account for the cost and timing. A beautiful detail still has to be something the team can build within the owner’s budget.
B&D: What is your one piece of advice for an owner starting a major renovation?
MS: Take time to understand the building before committing to a budget and schedule. Unknown conditions are often the biggest source of risk in a renovation, so bring in experienced people to investigate what’s there and determine which code requirements apply to the work you’re planning. You won’t eliminate every uncertainty, but that early work gives you a much stronger basis for your budget and schedule. It’s easier to address a problem while you’re still planning than after construction’s underway.
