The Facilities Process Sound Off: Top 10 Expert Tips It’s never too early to start planning, involving experts and reaching out to your community Understand the entire budget: Hard and soft costs Understand the role of each partner, their services, cost and payment method before you engage Great teams can equal cost savings: select partners based on qualifications, not fee Be realistic: Timeline, scope, expectations, etc. Each industry uses certain terminology/acronyms: Learn the language, ask question Don’t fall in love, do your due diligence Don’t sacrifice long term benefits for low up-front costs Always get independent legal advice BEFORE you contract Learn from others: Use available resources