Sandusky and Erie County have built an economy that extends far beyond tourism, though the 8,000 hotel rooms serving Cedar Point visitors demonstrate the hospitality sector's strength. Shores and Islands Ohio has distributed over $1.5 million in Destination Development Grants over three years to enhance local businesses and communities. Ohio recorded a record tourism boom in 2024, with Erie and Ottawa counties among the leaders driving $57 billion in statewide visitor spending.
Manufacturing provides year-round economic stability. Ardagh Metals invested $400 million in facility expansion, and Ventra Automotive employs approximately 2,300 people locally. County leaders have worked to diversify the economy, investing in infrastructure that benefits residents and visitors alike. The Enterprise Zone Program provides tax exemptions for new improvements and equipment, while CDBG Economic Development funds support low-interest loans and infrastructure improvements.
Whether you're developing hospitality infrastructure to serve the tourism market, expanding manufacturing facilities, or constructing commercial property for year-round residents, Sandusky projects require experienced oversight. An independent Owner's Representative ensures that seasonal pressures and industrial complexity don't compromise your budget and timeline.
Architects design. Contractors build. But who protects your budget and schedule? In most projects, no one fills this role with the owner's interests as their sole focus. Architects are primarily concerned with design intent and code compliance. General Contractors focus on their own means, methods, and profit margins. This leaves what we call the Leadership Vacuum where the owner's financial interests go unprotected.
DeVore Consulting fills this gap. We work exclusively for you, attending critical meetings, reviewing every pay application, scrutinizing change orders, and ensuring that what gets built matches what you're paying for.
We bring disciplined methodology to Sandusky's diverse development environment.
We specialize in projects from $500K to $50M. This segment needs professional oversight but often doesn't attract attention from firms focused on major industrial expansions like Ardagh.
We never hold trade contracts or self-perform construction work. This means our recommendations are based solely on what's best for your project, not what's best for our margin.
Whether navigating tourism-season deadlines or industrial precision requirements, every dollar counts. We verify pay applications and analyze change orders to separate legitimate costs from contractor overreach.
Our expertise spans the project types driving Erie County's economy:
Hotels, restaurants, and entertainment venues serving the tourism market, often facing compressed timelines to open before peak season.
Facility expansions and equipment installations for manufacturers that must proceed without disrupting ongoing operations.
New construction and renovation projects serving both the tourism economy and year-round residents.
Projects along Lake Erie requiring coordination with environmental considerations and site conditions.
We serve communities throughout Northwest Ohio including Fremont, Norwalk, and Tiffin.
The ideal time to engage DeVore Consulting is during site selection and pre-construction planning, before you've committed to land or locked in designs. We provide Fatal Flaw Analysis that evaluates infrastructure availability, seasonal timing constraints, and site conditions.
If your Sandusky project is already in motion, we can still add value through rigorous contractor oversight and change order management. But the earlier we're involved, the more problems we can prevent.
Let's discuss how independent oversight can benefit your Sandusky project.
We provide comprehensive project oversight for business owners and developers who need expert guidance through the construction process. With 20+ years overseeing the design and construction of residential and commercial, we know where problems hide and how to prevent them.
These FAQs are a starting point, but your project has specific goals, risks, and financial stakes. My role is to be your trusted guide.I protect your time and money by simplifying the process, providing experienced oversight, and preventing costly mistakes before they happen.
Hospitality projects in Sandusky often face compressed timelines to open before peak tourist season. The region's 8,000 hotel rooms and tourism infrastructure create seasonal construction patterns. We help you build realistic schedules accounting for these constraints, coordinate contractor commitments around seasonal deadlines, and manage the pressure of tourism-driven milestones.
Erie County has diversified beyond Cedar Point, with Ardagh Metals investing $400 million in facilities and Ventra Automotive employing 2,300 people. Manufacturing provides year-round economic stability. For construction projects, this means opportunities in industrial development alongside hospitality, with a contractor pool experienced in both sectors.
Shores & Islands Ohio has distributed over $1.5 million in Destination Development Grants over three years to businesses enhancing their communities and customer service. Eligible projects in Erie and Ottawa counties may qualify for funding support. We help clients understand program eligibility and ensure construction work meets grant documentation requirements.
Absolutely. While we add the most value by being involved from pre-construction through closeout , we can tailor our services to your specific needs. We are often brought in just for pre-construction planning, to help with contractor selection, or to get a troubled project that's already underway back on track.
Yes. Our service doesn't end when the contractor hands over the keys. Our "Phase 4: Closeout" process includes comprehensive warranty management and post-occupancy support to ensure your building functions as intended. We ensure all final documentation and manuals are collected, which is the foundation for your long-term facility management.
Yes. An owner's rep with a strong financial background is invaluable here. With an MBA in Real Estate Finance, we help you prepare the realistic, bank-ready documents lenders need to see. We create defensible pro formas, validate construction budgets, and manage the loan draw process, which builds essential trust and credibility with your lender.
Of course. We'll provide you with all the free advice you can handle. But to get started formally, we'll have to make sure our services align with you needs. We'll get to know your project aspirations and put together a proposal. Until we have an agreement no payment is expected.
Yes. While some firms only focus on large institutional projects, we specialize in guiding small business owners and first-time developers. The need for an owner's rep depends more on your project's complexity than its size. A complex $2M restaurant renovation often has more risk than a simple $5M warehouse. We can help you assess if professional oversight makes financial sense for your specific project .
Depending on scope, fees typically range from 0.5% to 1% of the total construction cost, depending on the project's complexity, timeline, and the specific scope of services you need . Studies have shown this investment typically saves clients 3-5% on total construction costs through rigorous contractor management, change order review, and problem prevention, meaning the service more than pays for itself.
This information goes to a real human being. Its a great way to learn more and start the conversation without any obligation. We will never provide your personal or contact information to a 3rd party.
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