Get clear before you build, renovate, expand, or approve the next step.

This is for clients who have an idea, a need, a space issue, a renovation goal, or a capital project in mind, but are not yet clear on how to move forward.

Cotie Consulting helps define the project vision, priorities, must-haves, tradeoffs, budget realities, and early risks before serious money is spent.

This may include:

• Discovery and vision alignment

• Project goals and priorities

• Must / want / dream list creation

• Early scope framing – what is the best bang for your buck?

• Budget reality check

• Feasibility guidance

• Project limits, risks, and tradeoffs

• Early decision support for leaders, boards, or committees

Churches, nonprofits, schools, business owners, first-time owners, organizations planning capital projects, new ventures, renovations or expansions, and even families navigating complex residential projects.

Set the project up right before the team, budget, or schedule is locked in.

The decisions made before construction begins often determine whether a project starts strong or becomes expensive, confusing, and misaligned.

Cotie Consulting helps clients evaluate team options, understand delivery methods, compare proposals, clarify expectations, and make smarter early decisions.

This may include:

• Architect and contractor selection support

• Site Layout, Regulations, Master Planning

• RFP/RFQ guidance

• Interview support

• Proposal review

• Team fit evaluation

• Project programming support

• Early schedule mapping

• Budget review and alternatives

• Contract type and delivery method education

• Board or stakeholder communication before approval

Organizations comparing firms, preparing for board approval, evaluating proposals, or trying to understand which project approach makes the most sense.

Bring Cotie Consulting into the conversation.

When a project is active, clients often need someone at the table who can listen for what is not being said, translate what is being recommended, and help keep the project aligned with its original purpose.

Cotie Consulting can participate in project meetings, support communication between parties, monitor decisions, review concerns, and help clients understand what needs attention.

This may include:

• Project meeting participation

• Owner, contractor, architect, and stakeholder communication

• Schedule review

• Scope monitoring

• Billing and invoice review

• Change order risk identification

• Issue escalation and problem-solving

• Decision support throughout the project

• Keeping decisions aligned with budget, schedule, function, and project intent

Active projects where the owner, board, construction team, or project stakeholders need an experienced construction advisor involved on a recurring basis.

Understand what you are being asked to approve.

Construction costs can be difficult to interpret without context. The lowest number is not always the best number, and a budget that looks complete may still carry risk.

Cotie Consulting helps clients review proposals, budgets, invoices, change orders, and recommendations so they can understand what is justified, what needs explanation, and what options may exist.

This may include:

• Budget review

• Bid comparison

• Proposal review

• Invoice validation

• Cost and scope clarification

• Change order review

• Schedule-related cost risk

• Budget alternatives

• Evaluation of what is justified versus what needs further discussion

Clients before signing, approving funds, accepting bids, approving change orders, or moving forward with major cost decisions.

Translate construction decisions for the people who need to approve, fund, or support them.

Many construction projects require more than technical execution. They require board confidence, donor support, stakeholder alignment, and clear communication.

Cotie Consulting helps organizations explain project needs, budget realities, timelines, risks, and decisions in language nontechnical audiences can understand.

This may include:

• Board presentation support

• Committee or stakeholder briefings

• Capital project communication

• Donor or funding-related project framing

• Grant-related project language

• Presentation decks

• Project storytelling for nontechnical audiences

• Communication support between owners, leaders, constituents, and project teams

Nonprofits, churches, schools, civic groups, community projects, capital campaigns, and board-led organizations.

The end of the project is where important details get missed.

Many clients think the hardest part is over when construction is almost complete. But closeout, inspections, final payments, warranties, move-in planning, punch lists, and permit details can create major frustration if they are rushed or overlooked.

Cotie Consulting helps clients finish strong by making sure the final phase receives the same attention as the beginning.

This may include:

• Project turnover oversight

• Punch list support

• Inspection coordination

• Closeout checklist management

• Final payment review

• Warranty tracking

• Move-in or occupancy planning

• Permit closeout coordination

• Documentation review

• Support holding teams accountable at the end

Clients nearing completion, preparing to move into a new or renovated space, or needing help resolving final details before the project is fully closed.

When the project is complete, but the outcome is not.

Sometimes the project is technically finished, but the client is not satisfied. The space may not function as intended. The budget may have expanded without clear understanding. The schedule may have created operational issues. Or the team may be preparing for phase two and wants to avoid repeating the same problems.

Cotie Consulting can help clients evaluate what happened, identify what still needs to be addressed, and prepare for the next decision or next phase with more clarity.

This may include:

• Post-project review

• Outcome and functionality assessment

• Lessons learned facilitation

• Review of unresolved issues

• Warranty or closeout concern review

• Phase two readiness planning

• Stakeholder communication after a difficult project

• Recommendations for moving forward

Clients who are unhappy with the final outcome, preparing for a second phase, or trying to understand what needs to change before the next project begins.

Focused construction guidance when you need expert input without a full engagement.

Not every client needs a long-term consulting relationship right away. Sometimes you need an experienced advisor to help you understand what is in front of you.

Advisory options may include:

Project Advisory Session
A focused conversation to talk through your project, concerns, options, and next steps.

Second Opinion Review
A review of a proposal, budget, scope, schedule, invoice, contract approach, or recommendation.

Project Roadmap Session
A strategy session to determine what to do first, who needs to be involved, and what decisions should come next.

Board or Committee Briefing
Angela joins a meeting to explain construction realities in clear, practical language.