 Image by Michal Jarmoluk from Pixabay "A manager coordinating work is one of the reasons to hire a construction project manager" If you've decided to build a home from scratch, or are planning a major addition or renovation in your current home, then you will face the decision of whether you want to hire a construction project manager. This can seem like a waste of money. Especially considering you are already paying contractors whom you can safely assume are professionals. However, before you conclude, check out our seven reasons to hire a construction project manager. Good Project Managers have connections in the industryThe first reason to hire a construction project manager is their connections. You see, planning out a project is all well and good. However, can you guarantee that you will be able to find the best experts to carry it out? What about finding a construction crew that has experience with a very similar project? Even finding a construction crew which has a stellar reputation can prove extremely difficult. After all, just how many contractors have you ever heard of in your city? Casual internet browsing can hardly reveal all of them. And even more, in-depth research can fail you. On the other hand, a construction project manager can help you find the ideal contractors for your needs. They will also be able to help you avoid making the mistake of hiring someone who is not reliable.  "Connections are crucial for finding the best experts in the industry" The right Project Manager has professional knowledgeOf course, one of the more significant reasons to hire a construction project manager is their knowledge. And we are not just talking about their understanding of how to best carry out a construction project. They will also be able to assist you with a whole bevy of other tasks. For example, they typically have great familiarity with local construction laws. You can avoid missing out on some of the required permits and applications. And it's a mistake which can make your entire build illegal! They can even offer design tips for building a fun home or constructing a particular addition or renovation. After all, they've seen plenty of other homes built, which makes them more than qualified to give casual advice on the subject.  "They've seen plenty of other homes built, which makes them more than qualified to give casual advice on the subject" Project Managers can help budget your home construction projectIf you are still not sold on hiring a construction project manager, consider this: their help with budgeting will be invaluable. Again, this is a scenario similar to finding the right company. You know what's needed, in theory. You also likely know the exact amount of materials you will need to build your home. However, how often does reality perfectly align with people's plans? Not very often, that's for sure. In the end, this means that you will frequently run into a situation where you need to make additional purchases. And purchasing small quantities of building materials is actually more expensive than when you buy them in bulk. So, experienced construction project managers can help you predict these problems and allow you to acquire the necessary materials you will need all at once. Project Managers can ensure your home reno project is finished on time "Project Managers can help keep your project on track" Yet another reason to hire a construction project manager is the fact that they will help keep your project on track and on time. There are many reasons why your project might start flagging and encounter delays. For example, your insistence on trying to make your home more pet friendly and the additions that stem from that can end up causing minor delays as they are incorporated. Your construction project manager can help spot these potential problems in advance and either call in more workers or simply organize their tasks better to compensate. This 'simple' adjustment can mean the difference between floundering to hit the deadline and finishing with leisure. Also, remember that construction crews rushing to complete a project are often liable to make mistakes. Mistakes that can easily compromise the quality of the build itself! Home building projects have problems - Project Managers can resolve issuesWe've hinted at it already, but construction project managers are highly valued for their problem-solving ability. A construction project rarely goes from start to finish without something going wrong. It is impossible to eliminate human error despite people's best efforts to do so. And this means that your own build will likely run into some kind of trouble sooner rather than later. Without a construction project manager, this might mean a lengthy and chaotic process of trying to untangle and fix the mess. If you even have the required knowledge for how best to do it at all, that is. With a construction project manager? You can relax and watch them do their job, turning a potential disaster into just another day of routine work. Coordinating construction crewsAnother reason to have a construction project manager on the job is that they are experts at crew coordination. Frequently, the biggest issues during a project result from bad scheduling and problems with your workers. This isn't to say it's necessarily their fault. For example, if a couple of your construction workers get sick, you can hardly blame them for missing their shifts. But, this would still mean facing a worker shortage, which in turn causes a string of delays and issues. A project manager can better communicate with the construction workers, help organize their shifts, and account for sudden changes such as the one we gave as an example.  "Frequently, the biggest issues during a project result from bad scheduling and problems with your workers" Build your home safelyThe final reason to hire a construction project manager is increased on-site safety. Everyone knows that construction work is often dangerous. Hauling heavy materials and construction equipment around, often at considerable heights, is not exactly easy or safe. And a regular person, even a professional with plenty of experience at their job, cannot constantly remain alert and careful. Admittedly, even a project manager won't be able to force the issue and get them to be at their best every moment of their workday. But, they can ensure they've taken all the necessary steps to mitigate the damage done to themselves and the building. Home building projects benefit from having a good Project ManagerKnowing about the seven reasons to hire a construction project manager, you can now make a more informed decision. The risks of refusing to hire a manager are apparent, so it is always best to have one backing you up if you face a more significant project. AuthorCiel Brown is an experienced construction worker, handyman, and mover currently associated with Number 1 Movers Canada. He likes to share his knowledge and experience with people who might find it helpful through informative blog posts. Want to learn more about designing, renovating and building houses?
Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home. and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home. ("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****) These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook. This article is a guest post and the owners of this website take no responsibility for the content or it's originality. The website publishes this article in good faith with the undertaking from the author and supplier that the content has not been plagiarised. Please report any errors in the article to the website owners. Should you prove the content is not original the article will be immediately taken down.
3 Comments
 Photo by Nothing Ahead: www.pexels.com "Finding a competent and honest contractor is one of the hardest parts of remodeling your home." Finding a competent and honest contractor is one of the hardest parts of remodeling your home. As a homeowner, you probably know that many unreliable contractors are out there. But you will never know how hard it is to find a good contractor until you start looking for one. Every contractor you speak to before you start your home renovation project will tell you how good of a contractor they are. But a short while after you hire them, you may realize they are no good. Maybe the contractor doesn’t show up when they say they will or don’t answer their phone. "If you hire the wrong contractor for your remodeling project, you could spend years trying to reverse the impact of that single wrong decision." Even worse, that contractor may use substandard materials on your house. If you hire the wrong contractor for your remodeling project, you could spend years trying to reverse the impact of that single wrong decision. (Will Your New Home Be Fit To Live In) That is why before hiring a contractor, you want to ensure they are the right fit for the project. How do you identify a great contractor from a bad contractor? Is there a system for filtering contractors to identify the bad ones before hiring them? What are the things to pay attention to when looking for a contractor to oversee your remodeling project? This post will answer those questions. Tips for finding a great contractor for your home remodeling project1. Build your contractor list The larger the number of potential contractors you speak to before you start the project, the greater the possibility of finding a good one. Talking to many contractors helps you gain perspective. Each contractor will behave differently; their words and actions become the basis for comparing one contractor against the other. How do you find contractors for your list?  Photo by Mikael Blomkvist: www.pexels.com "Talking to many contractors helps you gain perspective." 2. Deploy the power of your network The best way to populate your contractor list is to explore your connections. As a homeowner, you probably know other homeowners; talk to your neighbors and friends. Ask your handyman and the local real estate agent. Visit the hardware store and ask if they can recommend someone. Using your network makes it easier to find active contractors for your home building project in your locality 3. Prescreening the contractors Your opinion of a contractor starts to form the minute you speak to them on the phone or by the way they answer your email. When screening contractors, every little detail matters. If you find something you don’t like during those early interactions – maybe they are late or don’t like being asked many questions – you may be sure there will be more. 4. Experience and qualifications  Photo by Gustavo Fring: www.pexels.com "A good contractor will ask questions to understand your goals for the project and be happy to offer advice." The right contractor has experience working on similar projects or homes as yours. They should have operated in the city for a few years. They should show you their state contractor’s license. A good contractor will often have good standing with the local chapter of their professional body. They will ask questions to understand your goals for the project and be happy to offer advice. 5. Check online reviews If your first meeting with a contractor goes well, you can go ahead with this next step; Google them. Enter the contractor’s name and city, along with words like scam or rip-off, into the search bar to see what comes up. Check what others say about the contractor on services like Yelp and Google Business. Look for bad reviews and check how the contractor responds to them. "A reliable contractor should list past customers willing to vouch for them." 6. Ask for references A reliable contractor should list past customers willing to vouch for them. Ask the contractor to give you a list of past clients. These should be people who live around your area and be recent projects (maximum of three years). Call these customers and ask them to visit the project to see the contractor’s work. Ask them about their experience working with the contractor. (14 Questions to ask your building contractor's clients) 7. Employees, partnerships, and equipment  How many employees does the contractor have, and what are the qualifications of those employees? How many part-time versus permanent workers are on their payroll? Do they have binding contracts with subcontractors and suppliers? What kind of relationships and partnerships have they built over the years? What equipment do they have? 8. Insurance and bonding "The minimum you should expect regarding a contractor’s insurance policies is workers’ compensation, personal liability, and property damage insurance." You want to see and be able to verify the contractor’s certificate of insurance. The minimum you should expect regarding a contractor’s insurance policies is workers’ compensation, personal liability, and property damage insurance. A bonded contractor is even better. The bond ensures you will be compensated if the contractor abandons the project midway. 9. Request and compare prices You want to have a shortlist of 3-5 contractors for your project, companies that meet the above criteria. Ask each short-list contractor to give you a quotation for the project and a sample contract.  Compare the different documents; how materials are priced, how they charge for their work, the payment schedule, and how disputes will be resolved. Choose the contractor who demonstrates the most professionalism and shows the most transparency. Checking Your Contractor's Price (Quotation) Finding a dependable and skilled contractor for your home renovationHiring a reputable contractor for your upcoming home remodeling project is crucial. It can mean the difference between successful work and future financial and logistical hardships. The hardest element of home improvement projects is typically not the actual job itself. The real challenge is finding a dependable and skilled contractor to do the task. AuthorEnvy Property Management is a professional property management company in South Ogden, UT. We manage properties all over Northern Utah. You can find out more about us at http://www.envypropertymanagement.com. Want to learn more about designing, renovating and building houses?
Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home. and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home. ("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****) These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook. This article is a guest post and the owners of this website take no responsibility for the content or it's originality. The website publishes this article in good faith with the undertaking from the author and supplier that the content has not been plagiarised. Please report any errors in the article to the website owners. Should you prove the content is not original the article will be immediately taken down.
 "there's nothing quite like having a designated space for entertaining friends and family" If you're like most people, you have a home that you love. But if you don't have an area for entertaining, then it's time to think about making some changes. Even if your home is small or has other rooms that can be used as dining areas or lounging spaces, there's nothing quite like having a designated space for entertaining friends and family. This post will go over what makes the ideal entertaining home and how to achieve it in your own home. Dining with Style in your HomeTo host a dinner party, you will need a dining table that seats 8-10 people. You can never have too many guests over for dinner. The table should be long enough to cover the entire length of the table with a single white or black tablecloth. A cotton or linen cloth will breathe as well and won’t wrinkle easily if it gets folded up like synthetic fabrics do when they are ironed and pressed. Entertaining KitchenFor your home to be the ultimate entertaining space, you have to give your guests a place where they can feel comfortable and at home. This means ensuring the kitchen is large enough to accommodate everyone visiting (and possibly cooking) during the party. If you’re thinking about renovating your kitchen, you should consider how many people you want to entertain. Here are a few features you should consider in your kitchen: · A kitchen island or peninsula is ideal because it serves as a gathering point for friends and family members while they enjoy their meals. It also gives you an opportunity to show off some of your cooking skills · A large pantry can hold all those extra bags of chips and dip guests bring over when they come for a party. This gives them somewhere safe to store them so that their favorite snacks don't go stale in cabinets or on countertops · If you're hosting a big get-together, consider having one or two places where people can sit down while they're eating food straight from the oven  Photo by R ARCHITECTURE on Unsplash "A kitchen aisle is great for people to try out food while it's being prepared" Outdoor Spaces for EntertainingOutdoor spaces are the perfect venue for entertaining. They can be used in all seasons, day or night, with or without a roof. This means you can host a party at your home no matter what the weather is like outside. You can also create an area that's easy to keep clean after your guests leave so that it looks great all year long! Here are a few ideas: · A garden room: This can be a great space to create an outdoor dining area. It's also a great place to have your guests wait while you prepare for them inside · An outdoor kitchen: This is a great place to put your grill and other cooking equipment. You can also use it as a buffet table for serving food · A water feature: Adding something unique, like a pond or fountain, can make your backyard look more interesting. It's also great for entertaining because it gives guests something to look at while they're waiting for you to bring out the food  Photo by Dan Gold on Unsplash "Good food, nice weather, and an inviting outdoor living space, will make for a joyous and memorable occasion with family and friends" Think about different types of outdoor spaces that you can create before you start this project. Some are more suited to a formal setting, while others are perfect for an informal get-together. Create Inviting Lounging AreasIt's important to create a comfortable area where your guests can relax, so you should use inviting and comfy furniture. Remember that the lighting in this room should be good for reading or watching television. The last thing you need is to have people squinting at their phones because they can't read their texts from across the room! Your lounge should be close enough to the kitchen so that it doesn't take too long to get snacks and drinks when everyone gets hungry. Create a Bar AreaWhen hosting a party or event, creating a space your guests will want to spend time in is important. A bar area is an excellent way to do this. If you have the space, it’s also helpful if the bar area can be accessed from other areas of your house so that guests don’t feel like they need to rush through before heading back out into the rest of your home. If you don't have room for an actual bar with stools and such, consider using part of an existing wall or creating something temporary with cardboard boxes. It should be noted, though, that this can get messy quickly! Now let's talk about some more permanent options Additional Home AmenitiesYou’ve already got a great place to host guests, but there are some other amenities you can add to your home that will make it even more inviting and comfortable. If you have the space, consider adding a fireplace or library. A fireplace is especially nice if it's cold outside because it adds heat as well as ambiance.  Photo by Robin van Geenen on Unsplash "A fireplace could bring a cozy atmosphere to your living room" A library is another great place for people to hang out and talk about books or movies. It's also a good way for your guests to feel like they're at home (feel free to bring along an extra blanket or pillow). In case your friends have kids, you should consider creating a kid-friendly area in your home, too. If you don't have room in your house for either of these, consider adding them to an outbuilding on your property. If neither of those options works for you, think about building an outdoor fire pit. It'll provide warmth while still being outside! An Entertaining Home Connects PeopleThe first thing you should do to design the ultimate entertaining home is to make sure you have an area to entertain people. This doesn't mean that you need a full bar or a fireplace, but having somewhere with comfortable seating and a TV or tablet will be essential. The next step is to choose the right furniture for your space. For example, if you're going for a modern look, you'll want to choose furniture with clean lines and bold colors. You could also choose leather or microfiber sofas for a more luxurious look. Designing a Home for EntertainingWe are sure you’re ready to get started on creating your own entertaining home. As with any other design project, it’s essential to begin by deciding what kinds of activities are going to happen where and how they will work together as a cohesive unit. We hope these tips have inspired you to make your home an inviting place where friends and family can gather for great times! AuthorStella Russel is an experienced blogger and copywriter. For the last six years, she’s been writing articles for various clients, including Kokusai Express Japan. Her topics of choice are related to travel, moving, transportation and lifestyle. Want to learn more about designing, renovating and building houses?
Paul Netscher has written 2 easy to read books 'An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses - Volumes 1 and 2'. An Introduction to Building and Renovating Houses Volume 1 deals with Hiring Contractors, Managing Construction and Finishing Your Home. and Designing your ideal home Volume 2 deals with Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home. ("Great for those that DIY. Very helpful in home renovations!" said a Reader on Amazon.com 5*****) These books are available from Amazon and other online bookstores in paper and ebook. This article is a guest post and the owners of this website take no responsibility for the content or it's originality. The website publishes this article in good faith with the undertaking from the author and supplier that the content has not been plagiarised. Please report any errors in the article to the website owners. Should you prove the content is not original the article will be immediately taken down.
|
AuthorI’m a construction professional, author of several successful construction management books, and a home owner. I’ve made mistakes in construction management, I’ve seen others make mistakes, but importantly I’ve had multiple successful construction projects and I’ve learned from the mistakes. I want to share these lessons and my knowledge with you. 
Also available from:
Amazon Au, Amazon DE, Amazon ES, Amazon CA, Amazon IT, Amazon FR, Amazon NL, Amazon India and 'An Introduction to Building Houses - Volume 2 Finding Your Ideal Property and Designing Your Dream Home'
Archives
August 2024
Categories
We welcome genuine comments, especially comments that add additional information to the subject matter in the article. We however reserve the right to remove inappropriate comments, which includes comments that have nothing to do with the subject, comments that include inappropriate language, and comments that are an advertisement for a product or company, or which include an advertising link. Comments must be in English. We will not enter into discussion on why a particular comment was removed.
|
RSS Feed