What is a recommended first course of action when faced with a construction issue?

When faced with a construction issue, attempting to negotiate a resolution is often the most practical and effective initial course of action. This approach fosters communication and collaboration between the involved parties, which can lead to a quicker, more amicable solution. Negotiation allows both sides to express their concerns and work toward a mutually agreeable settlement without escalating the situation or incurring significant costs associated with legal proceedings or arbitration.

Engaging in negotiation can help preserve business relationships and minimize disruption to the project timeline, which is critical in the context of construction. Many issues can be resolved through discussion and compromise, making this a valuable first step.

In contrast, consulting with a lawyer right away might escalate the situation unnecessarily and lead to a more adversarial approach, while suspending all project work could cause significant delays and increase costs. Bringing in an arbitrator without prior negotiation skips essential communication and can complicate matters further, as arbitration is typically considered a more formal dispute resolution method meant for when negotiations have failed.