It is important to have the architect maintain a presence during the actual construction of the project. This is done for many reasons: unforeseen conditions may arise during the construction, design changes may be requested by the owners, or cost saving opportunities may be presented by the contractor. In addition the architect can and should review the contractor’s requests for payment, should assist in the preparation of the "punch list" at the end of the job, and should make sure that all of the project close-out provisions have been attended to.
I usually arrange for a weekly site meeting where the owners and contractors can share their observations and raise any important questions. This serves as a way to promote ongoing involvement and communication amongst all parties. In addition to the weekly meetings many small issues are resolved by phone or fax.
Although many owners see this phase of the basic architectural services to be optional or expendable, it is my experience that these services are among the most important. As in any triangular relationship, communication and proactive problem solving are of paramount importance. Ongoing involvement by the architect during construction serves this end. I feel so strongly about this point that I will decline to participate in projects where this portion of the architect's basic services is deleted.