Top Tips For Project Managing Your Home Remodel
Jan 22, 2015 02:11
Remodelling your home can be a challenge even if you have no other distractions in life. When you combine work, family and a tight budget to the mix, you may really start to struggle with any kind of project going on in the house that may cause a distraction. A tight budget affects most of us at one time or another, but often we just have to get on and complete the project no matter what.
You may be looking to separate a large room into two with a simple stud partition. Alternatively, you may be building an enormous extension to accommodate your growing family. Whatever your project, it is unlikely you can do it alone. But you can save some money by getting involved in the build yourself. While not all tasks are easy enough for DIY enthusiasts, there are some parts of the project you could get involved with.
Often, we hire a team of builders, and maybe only step into the project at the end to decorate and replace the furniture. Those on a tight budget may be interested in project managing. If you are not up to any DIY or building tasks, this is the best way you can really get involved in your building or remodelling project. Project managers are ultimately responsible for the money. Everything about the project will have a cost, from the tradespeople to the materials, and the project manager will run the accountancy side of things.
image via flickr
You may have set the budget for your project, but holding the purse strings as a project manager involves negotiating and sourcing the best materials and people. You are responsible for getting the best price for them. You may also need to manage the timing for each of the deliveries and trades to come in and do their bit. Your building supplies are likely to need to be time sensitive, so you don’t have too many materials on the site in the way.
The availability of tradespeople may determine your entire timeline as well, although hiring a contractor could be cheaper and easier to manage. The contractor will find the people necessary at the time required. Sometimes, negotiating with individuals on a local level can save you some money but will cost you dearly in your valuable time and energy to do so.
Once the works have begun, you will also be responsible for making sure facilities on site are adequate for everyone to do their jobs. They will need comfort breaks, so everything needs to be in place and functional. It is easy to forget about things when there is so much to manage, so see if you can find a good template with a strong list for you to refer to on a daily basis.
If there are likely to be health and safety issues on site, you may be better off contracting someone else to manage the site. Be certain you follow their rules and regulations regarding safety wear and equipment if you wish to visit the site. For a simple remodelling job, this is unlikely to be necessary.
You may be looking to separate a large room into two with a simple stud partition. Alternatively, you may be building an enormous extension to accommodate your growing family. Whatever your project, it is unlikely you can do it alone. But you can save some money by getting involved in the build yourself. While not all tasks are easy enough for DIY enthusiasts, there are some parts of the project you could get involved with.
Often, we hire a team of builders, and maybe only step into the project at the end to decorate and replace the furniture. Those on a tight budget may be interested in project managing. If you are not up to any DIY or building tasks, this is the best way you can really get involved in your building or remodelling project. Project managers are ultimately responsible for the money. Everything about the project will have a cost, from the tradespeople to the materials, and the project manager will run the accountancy side of things.
image via flickr
You may have set the budget for your project, but holding the purse strings as a project manager involves negotiating and sourcing the best materials and people. You are responsible for getting the best price for them. You may also need to manage the timing for each of the deliveries and trades to come in and do their bit. Your building supplies are likely to need to be time sensitive, so you don’t have too many materials on the site in the way.
The availability of tradespeople may determine your entire timeline as well, although hiring a contractor could be cheaper and easier to manage. The contractor will find the people necessary at the time required. Sometimes, negotiating with individuals on a local level can save you some money but will cost you dearly in your valuable time and energy to do so.
Once the works have begun, you will also be responsible for making sure facilities on site are adequate for everyone to do their jobs. They will need comfort breaks, so everything needs to be in place and functional. It is easy to forget about things when there is so much to manage, so see if you can find a good template with a strong list for you to refer to on a daily basis.
If there are likely to be health and safety issues on site, you may be better off contracting someone else to manage the site. Be certain you follow their rules and regulations regarding safety wear and equipment if you wish to visit the site. For a simple remodelling job, this is unlikely to be necessary.
