Building Consultant -vs- Expediter

I read a really old post about an expediter’s fees, where someone said ‘if an Expediter says he will signoff applications or change your CofO it’s a scam’.
After putting myself in the complainant’s shoes for a second, I recognized the huge difference between what someone says and what someone hears.
As a Building Consultant I am far more than just an Expediter, yet Expediting is one of the things I do for you. I make it clear you will be paying others for their portion of the project. I believe the complainant assumed the expediters quoted fees included the Architects fees, the plumbers fees, the filing fees, the asbestos fees, etc. etc.. They thought they were getting it all for $5,000. uh… no!

I read a few more comments on the Expediter topic and realized something needs to be explained to the Home-Owning public that may help you all understand the role of an Expediter, and the deep and wide valley of roles that are thought to be handled by an Expediter. We really don’t… cant ‘expedite’ anything. We can draft a letter for your NonProfit organization that requests an expedited review of one step in your project, but no cutting lines or begging for approvals. The modern day term that the DOB rightfully classified as ‘Filing Rep’ is so much closer to the actual job description.

The City Red Tape System is so complicated and unsearchable for answers, that it takes an expert to get anything done at the DOB. A Filing Rep (Expediter) is someone who hopefully has been dealing with them for years and has enough experience to ask the right people the right questions so ‘the Architect you hired’ can successfully research, file, approve, inspect, and signoff the application that allows you to complete your project. Expediters can only assist them to do so.

I am writing this because after reading many more questions and comments posted by people without DOB experience, I am sure many don’t get the whole picture.
Many are told they will need an ‘Expediter’, which is true, but they will also need to hire others to get the job done. If you are paying the Expediter to manage the whole process (hire the architect, contractor, plumber, electrician, asbestos investigator, special inspection agent, etc.), then you are hiring them as a Building Consultant – to do YOUR JOB.
That could be what you want – as long as you know what you are doing and you have an honest, reputable expert who will be making decisions and deals for you. It’s similar to a General Contractor subcontracting the plumber and electrician and paying all the required fees. That would all be spelled out in a long expensive contract. If its not in writing, it’s not included. In that case you should also be paying the Reputable Licensed Professional Registered Architect to manage and monitor the General Contractor because you just cannot. What do you do for a living? Yeah better stick to that.
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Because I am Honest and a Reputable Expert Building Consultant with 40 years experience, I don’t want that job.
I will represent you, advise you, research, find you answers and warn you. I will coordinate all the parties you hire to provide whatever the DOB needs from them, prepare the required forms and push each one of them along till the end, …but You hire them and You pay them directly.

My agreement with you specifically lists what I am responsible for and that I am ‘assisting’ the others which You the Owner are Hiring. All City Agency Fees will be paid directly by You the owner.
Please read your contracts and have your Real Estate Attorney read the contracts. I’m sure there are a few here the fine Brownstoner Community can refer. Don’t let your Bankruptcy Esquire or cousin in law school do it.