Tom
Beta Return
Dropping earthmoving equipment is technically starting. When a contractor is issued a contract and given "Notice to Proceed," it's usually a surprise, after a couple weeks of not hearing anything.
So, you're going about your business, working on other jobs, then you get a call or email saying "You have been awarded the contract. Please mobilize, begin the submittal process, and return this fully executed contract with required insurance documents."
So, you have a crew take out the equipment you'll need and drop it on site. Meanwhile you get the surveyor going, which can take a few days if he's working for you and had to enter all of the plan data into his software. And your office is also busy writing subcontracts, gathering samples and product literature for every material used on the job, so you can submit it to the Architect for approval.
I mobilized on my bank addition/remodel site 2 weeks ago, and we haven't done any new work yet. We spent 3 days setting up a fence, getting a backhoe out there, hiring a surveyor and finding all the errors in the plans. Then we started some demolition. All while waiting for the permit, and for the architect to approve our concrete mix designs since new footings will be the first new work we do.
This was my long way of saying that just because they dropped some equipment, doesn't mean they'll start moving dirt that day. They've officially "mobilized" which is a good thing. Right now, there's a literal mountain of paperwork flying around behind the scenes.
