130 Unit Renovation Inspection Schedule

[Arav N.]

Hello - wanted to get everyone's thoughts on a renovation situation I am currently facing. I have a 130 unit exterior corridor hotel property that is currently being renovated. Specifically, the entire front facade is being replaced - new framing, windows, and doors. I applied for and got the all the necessary permits and the work has started. We did 7 rooms as a "sample" and had each phase of the work inspected by the building inspector - framing, insulation, dry wall, and final c/o. That all passed. But that all also took a long time (20+ days) since we had to schedule formal inspections and wait for the building inspector to come and give his okay at each phase before moving on with the next steps.

Now, since we're doing the exact same work with the exact same contractors in the remaining 120+ rooms, I was hoping we'd be able to breeze through them without the need for formal inspections at each phase. Again, it's literally the same work 120 times over, nothing new. We'd welcome the inspector anytime he'd like to drop in and see what we're doing but want to keep working around the clock without having to wait for inspections before moving on. But the building inspector has been giving us a hard time and insists on inspecting the framing, insulation, dry wall, etc. with the same scrutiny as the "sample" rooms and threatened to get us shut down if we don't follow his schedule. This seemed very impractical to me. 

Anybody have experience with multi-unit renovations and inspections? Is there any way around his nonsensical inspections? This particular building inspector is a third party inspector hired by the township so I am thinking of reaching out to the head engineer of the township with my concern. The longer this renovation takes the more negative implications there are for us and the township (loss of business for us and loss of occupancy taxes for the township). 

Appreciate any help - thanks!

[Joel Owens]

Sometimes it can be better to have a BUFFER between the owner of a project and government officials. Some owners are good at schmoozing  and good will in a certain light to get things approved faster and others are not.

There are liaison types who do cost money but can usually help speed things along. Officials tend to like them and more seems to get done faster.

If you come at officials with vinegar instead of honey they can make your life very difficult and use code and laws you didn't even know existed.