One of the reasons why construction projects are costly is due to the inability to finish on time. If you have a tight budget and want to save money, you must learn how to manage the time properly. Here are some useful tips for you to think about before taking your next construction project. Whether you’re a manager planning out everything, an architect who creates the blueprints, or a real estate developer.
1. IDENTIFY YOUR DELAYS/BLOCKERS IN ADVANCE AND MINIMIZE THEM.
- When planning for a project, keep in mind that delays will be inevitable. As early as now try to realize your delays and blockers that could be the result of an overtime project.
The difference between delays and blockers:
- Delays happen when things don’t go according to plan. When there is an unexpected event such as the rain. The working days will be delayed because the weather is inevitable and engineers can’t work in a wet area.
On the other hand, blockers are something that must be executed before any other work can be continued. It can be a permit that was not signed by a certain government, a required inspection that was not yet done or not having a certain material on hand.
It is important to know what delays are and what your blockers are so that you find a solution in every step of the way without wasting time.
2. DEVELOP YOUR MANAGERIAL SKILLS.
Insufficient management is another reason for project failures. Managers are the skeleton of a project because they are required to create a plan that includes all the different elements and dynamics of the project.
A construction manager’s task is to make sure that everyone has their roles and responsibilities done in an orderly manner. An amazing manager can juggle different aspects of a detailed plan and can make sure to avoid delays and blockers at the same time.
3. HAVE A DETAILED PLAN/FLOWCHART.
If you want everything to be on time, being detailed about every aspect of the way is an important factor. You can’t just tell an idea or a job without all of its descriptions and guidelines. It is a necessity for a project to be done successfully.
A successful plan always has contingency plans for unseen forecasts and circumstances along the way. This would create a clear guideline in how you should respond to delays and blockers.
4. DESIGNATE THE RIGHT TASKS FOR THE RIGHT PEOPLE.
A construction project has different fields to get into and there are many employees, contractors, subcontractors, managers, and other personnel directly involved. It means that the construction manager has a lot of responsibilities to take care of and higher chances of something getting wrong. One wrong move and it could create a significant delay for the project.
You must learn to give the right roles as well as the right responsibilities. Let them learn that in every action they take, they must be accountable for it. Remember to focus not just on what needs to be done, but who will be responsible for doing it and by when.
5. APPOINT YOUR CONTRACTORS FAR IN ADVANCE.
You need to schedule all of your contractors far advance in case of disasters. Your mind must see everything like a bird’s eye view. Make sure that all the supplies that will be needed for the project will be available when the time starts. You will need about a month in ordering the supplies you need, and perhaps a couple more months for you to bid and plan. You will need about three months or more for you to start organizing all your constructors.