Owner's representative in Toronto
An owner's representative manages your construction program on your behalf: schedule, cost, change and reporting. Benjamin R. Consulting works only for owners, never for contractors, so our advice is never shaped by a contract we're trying to win.
What an owner's rep does on your program
We sit on your side of the table with the general contractor, consultants and your internal teams. You get one point of accountability from design through construction and turnover, and the numbers to make decisions on time.
- Owner's representation: program governance, decision logs, contractor and consultant oversight, and risk escalation to your executives.
- Master scheduling: one integrated schedule across design, permits, procurement, construction and move-in, in Primavera P6 or Microsoft Project, plus independent review of contractor schedules. See how we review a construction schedule.
- Change control: every change order logged, priced, challenged and approved through one process. See how to manage change orders.
- Executive reporting: a one-page monthly report backed by live Power BI dashboards. See our monthly report template.
Project cost management in Toronto
Budget forecasts you can defend at the board table: committed, forecast and contingency, tracked month by month against what is happening on site. We test every number against 2026 GTA construction cost benchmarks and keep contingency drawdown visible. More on our construction cost management service.
Who we work with
- Corporate real estate groups running headquarters, campus and workplace programs.
- Retail and commercial portfolios with multi-site renovation and sustainment work.
- Developers and institutions who need independent schedule and cost oversight.
- Construction managers and consultancies who need senior planning and scheduling support.
How an engagement works
- Diagnose: we review your schedule, budget, contracts and reporting, and show you where you're exposed.
- Integrate: one master schedule and one cost baseline that every party works from.
- Control: a weekly cadence on progress, changes and risks, with an owner and a deadline for every issue.
- Report: leadership gets a clear monthly picture and live dashboards, so decisions happen on time.
Three ways to bring us in: as your program owner's rep for the life of a program, on a monthly controls retainer across a portfolio, or for a fixed-scope health check with a clear action plan. Fees and the ROI case are explained in what an owner's rep costs in Ontario.
Owner's rep vs general contractor vs project manager
| Owner's rep | General contractor or CM | Contractor's project manager | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Works for | The owner only | Its own contract with the owner | The contractor |
| Paid by | The owner, for oversight | The contract price or fee | The contractor |
| Accountable for | The owner's schedule, budget and decisions | Building the work | Delivering the contractor's scope |
More in owner's rep vs general contractor vs construction manager and owner's rep vs project manager.
Who you work with
Ben Abbasi, PMP, founder of Benjamin R. Consulting, has more than 12 years of experience managing complex, long-duration projects and currently serves as owner's representative on a multi-building corporate campus program in Toronto. He also teaches planning and scheduling at George Brown College. The BRC team covers project controls, data analysis and project management.
Frequently asked questions
What does an owner's representative cost in Ontario?
Industry guides put owner's representative fees at roughly 1% to 5% of total construction cost, depending on size, complexity and risk. We prefer a fixed monthly fee tied to written deliverables, so you know your cost every month.
When should an owner hire an owner's rep?
Before procurement, ideally. A rep engaged early shapes the contract, schedule and reporting from day one. A rep brought in to rescue a slipping project often costs more in total.
What is the difference between an owner's rep and a project manager?
Every project manager on a construction program serves whoever pays them. An owner's rep is paid by the owner and works only for the owner, with no stake in the construction contract.
Can you help us choose the right construction contract?
Yes. Choosing between CCDC 2, CCDC 5A, CCDC 5B, cost-plus or design-build is one of the first risk decisions on a project. Our Ontario construction contracts guide walks through each one.
Can you step in on a project that is already under way?
Yes. A fixed-scope health check reviews the schedule, budget and risk of a live project and gives you a clear action plan.
Do you work outside the GTA?
Most of our work is in the Greater Toronto Area, and we support owners across Ontario and Canada.