Questions we get every week.
Owner-side PM, fees, BIM, sustainability, procurement, geography — answered.
Working with Gallarzo
How are your fees structured?
Fee-for-service against a defined scope per phase by default. Performance-aligned options on schedule, cost, and quality KPIs. Fixed-fee, hourly, and percentage-of-construction structures are also available. See /pricing.
Will I work with the senior PM on the sales call?
Always. No bench-and-switch. The senior PM in the proposal is the one who runs the engagement.
Can you engage on a single phase?
Yes. Many clients start us in feasibility or post-design. Value is maximum when we're engaged at feasibility, but we frequently start later.
Do you carry insurance and bonds?
Yes — full E&O, general liability, workers' comp, and project-specific bonds as required. Certificates available on request.
Is everything confidential?
Always. Mutual NDAs are standard practice and we'll sign yours or provide ours.
What size of project do you take on?
$10M – $100M+ is our sweet spot. We selectively take engagements outside that range when there's a strong portfolio or strategic fit.
How quickly can you mobilize?
Discovery within 7 days; Phase within 14 days SoCal, 21 days nationally; Lifecycle within 2–3 weeks for kickoff.
Owner-side PM 101
What is an owner's representative?
Independent project management on the owner's side of the table — accountable for outcomes (schedule, cost, quality, safety, sustainability), not deliverables. Distinct from a general contractor or CM-at-risk.
Why hire an owner's rep before the architect?
Pre-design decisions determine 70% of project outcomes. Owner-side PM at feasibility produces a defensible business case, smarter design briefs, and a procurement strategy you'll wish you had later.
How does owner-side PM differ from CM-at-risk?
CM-at-risk firms hold subcontracts and carry construction risk. Owner-side PM holds no subcontracts; we work for you, never for the builder. The two roles are complementary when held by different firms.
Will an owner's rep slow down the project?
No. Disciplined RFI cycles, faster decision matrices, and pre-contracted change-order processes typically save 7–11 weeks on a $50M project.
Do I need an owner's rep on a $10M project?
Usually yes, especially if you don't have in-house bench. Smaller projects have the same risk profile per dollar; mistakes hurt more proportionally.
BIM, design, sustainability
Does my project need BIM?
BIM pays back when LOD is tiered to risk, federation is governed, and FM handover is contracted from day one. See our BIM ROI Guide for the decision matrix.
Is LEED worth it in 2026?
Yes, but treat it as the floor, not the ceiling. Embodied carbon, instrumented Cx, and POE matter more than the plaque.
How early should we contract Cx and POE?
Schematic design. After CD is too late to influence operability.
Are net-zero buildings more expensive?
On capital, yes — typically 4–8% incremental. On 10-year operating cost, no — payback is typically 5–8 years before energy credits.
Procurement & cost
How do you protect against tariff and commodity shocks?
Pre-purchase strategy on long-lead items, escalation clauses in subcontracts, and pre-negotiated scenario contingencies the lender has approved.
Do you take vendor incentives or commissions?
Never. Vendor incentives would compromise our independence. Reimbursables pass through at cost with prior owner approval.
What contingency should we carry?
Typical baseline 5% on hard costs at GMP, drawn down through a written waterfall the lender pre-approves. We carry separate owner-side soft-cost contingency at 8–10%.
How do you control change orders?
Three controls: a contracted change-order authority matrix, a contingency waterfall, and a weekly OAC change-order review with hard accountability.
Geography & engagement
Do you only serve California?
Headquartered in Orange County, primarily Southern California. Active programs in Arizona, Nevada, Utah, and selective Texas pursuits. National coverage for institutional portfolios.
Will you sign a one-off engagement?
Yes. Discovery is the most common one-off. Phase and Lifecycle engagements are also single-engagement by default.
Do you work internationally?
Yes, with FIDIC fluency, for U.S.-based clients with global elements (international supply chains, expatriate workforce considerations).
Ready to turn chaos into calm?
A 15-minute call. A clear next step. Quantified upside on your next $10M–$100M+ project.