Real estate / construction: the urgency of framing upstream, the key to successful projects

The truth is that a poorly planned project ultimately costs weeks of delay and thousands of euros in additional costs.

A figure circulates in the profession: nearly 80% of delays are attributable to initial errors, forgotten rules, non-compliant plans, and flawed estimates. The slightest inaccuracy in a plan or specifications can generate a domino effect: 10 to 15 hours lost cross-checking information, several days wasted per iteration, and sometimes 4 to 6 additional weeks in the event of rejection or recalibration. Suffice to say, a detail forgotten at the design stage quickly turns into a time and financial drain.

Framing early is unlocking value

The most fluid projects are those that have invested, from the outset, in a rigorous framework. This means:

• detect all useful data (PLU, diagnostics, specifications),
• analyze regulatory, environmental, architectural feasibility,
• Anticipate deviations from specifications before they generate additional costs

This preparatory work may seem tedious, but it saves considerable time. Where once ten hours were spent manually validating scattered information, now a single hour is enough with the right solutions. Where an iteration took two weeks, it can be reduced to a few days. This isn't just a scheduling optimization; it's a radical transformation in the way we work.

Some might fear that this obsession with framing will stifle the imagination of architects and designers. Quite the opposite is true. By eliminating manual and repetitive tasks and reducing administrative and regulatory friction, we free up time and energy to focus on what matters most: design, creativity, and innovation. Upstream rigor isn't a constraint; it's a condition of freedom.

Beyond time and money, compliance is crucial. Whether it's ERP standards, PRM accessibility, PLUs, or local regulations, any shortcomings discovered too late result in costly delays and a loss of trust among partners. Ensuring compliance from the outset secures the project and protects all stakeholders.

We live in an era where the pace of projects is accelerating, where international competition is fierce, and where financial room for maneuver is shrinking. In this context, it is no longer possible to leave room for improvisation or "we'll see later." Planning ahead is not a luxury; it is an absolute necessity.

In reality, successful projects aren't those that move forward the fastest from the start, but those that lay solid foundations from the very beginning. Anticipating, organizing, and verifying: these steps, if taken seriously, allow for faster delivery, with higher quality and less stress.

We no longer have the right to be vague. Every hour saved at the beginning of a project is a week avoided at the end. Every rule checked upfront is one less obstacle on the construction site. The real revolution isn't in the speed of execution, but in the initial precision. Framing early means building accurately.

Opinion piece by Peter Starr, co-founder of Freeda (Linkedin).