The Conversation That Saved My Client $800K
It happened before the first wire was ever pulled.
Most developers miss this conversation entirely, and it’s costing them—big time.
The Hidden Cost of Redundant Networks
Here’s what’s happening in new construction:
Developers are wasting $2+ per square foot on unnecessary, redundant digital infrastructure.
Let’s do the math:
- 600,000 sq ft apartment development
- $2 per sq ft in waste
- = $1.2 million in avoidable costs
How Does This Happen?
It all comes down to a communication breakdown:
- The GC talks to the electrical contractor
- The electrical contractor talks to the low-voltage contractor
But nobody talks to:
- The digital infrastructure architect
- The security company
- The access control vendor
Each team designs their own network.
Each pulls their own cables.
Each installs their own hardware.
The result? Eight separate networks are doing the job of one.
We Caught It Mid-Design—and Saved $800K
Last week, we stepped into a project during design development.
We noticed redundant systems before they became real costs.
The fix was simple.
The savings? $800,000.
What Most Developers Miss
Here’s the insight most people overlook:
Digital infrastructure planning isn’t about technology. It’s about coordination.
One conversation between the right teams before construction begins can unlock more savings than an entire year of value engineering.
But once construction starts?
You're locked in.
You're optimizing for scope—not for cost.
You're paying for duplicate systems.
The Solution: Plan Digital Like You Plan HVAC
Developers would never leave HVAC, plumbing, or mechanical design to chance.
So why do it with digital?
The solution is straightforward:
- Plan early
- Plan holistically
- Coordinate across vendors
- Bring in a partner who sees the full digital picture
Because $2 per sq ft in waste adds up fast—and no developer wants to find that out after the fact.
Want to Stop Burning Money on Redundant Networks?
Get the Peak Property Performance Playbook by Bill Douglas, CEO & Drew Hall Founder and Chief Systems Architect of OpticWise
In this resource, you'll learn:
- How to eliminate network duplication
- Who should be at the table before design begins
- What developers are doing to gain back control and profit through smart digital planning