Being part of a construction project that’s within the budget and on schedule is every general contractor and crew member’s dream.
There are many moving parts of a building project to manage. While not every issue that can happen on a job site can be predicted, there are some ways to prevent problems during your building project.
By following these tips, you can work toward having your building project go as smoothly as possible.
PLAN EVERYTHING
Every building project that operates seamlessly starts with a plan.
Make a realistic plan for how your building project will get done and when it will be completed. If you can allow for some breathing room, you’ll likely thank yourself for it later. It’s better to get the project done on time than get it done late due to poor planning.
You’d rather get the project done on time than be disappointed that you got done late because you didn’t plan for enough time to get the job done in the first place.
Another crucial part of planning is planning a realistic budget. Allow for more money than you plan to spend just in case you have additional, unexpected costs.
You can also plan for who you want on your crew and what information, equipment, and materials you need.
FIND THE RIGHT CREW
As a general contractor, it’s up to you to find the people with the right skills to tackle the project. Be clear with your crew from the start about what responsibilities everyone has individually. When you can, pick people you know and trust to complete the building project according to the schedule.
GET THE NECESSARY MATERIALS
Getting high-quality products ensures that your crew has what they need to get the job done well.
Refer back to your plan to know what you need and when you need it. This can help you avoid delays in construction — you don’t want to be running to the building supply store at the last minute due to a lack of planning.
Planning ahead also gives you a chance to find out what materials are in high demand. When you know this at the start of the project, you can avoid having to adjust your plans on the fly or having to go over budget for special deliveries.
MAKE SURE EVERYONE IS SAFE
For any building project, safety should be your priority. Keep the job site free of health and safety hazards and train your crew on how to work safely. Another part of having a safe job site is having the right materials, like gloves or harnesses, so work can get done safely.
When in doubt about rules and regulations, check the United States Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) for more information.
DOCUMENT THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS
Be sure to keep relevant documents and information organized. These documents may include paperwork like the construction contract agreement, scope of work document, construction schedule, receipts, insurance policies, and documentation of workplace injuries and illnesses.
You can also track what went well and what could have gone better so you can learn from this information and improve on your next project.
COMMUNICATE WELL AND OFTEN
If you don’t clearly communicate your expectations, your team may lack efficiency. To improve productivity, make sure your crew members know to come to you if they run into issues, foresee the project taking longer than planned, need a certain material you hadn’t anticipated a need for, or anything in between.
BE ADAPTABLE
On a job site, it’s not uncommon for plans to change. When this happens, you should lead the way by responding quickly and with a level head. If you appear flustered or frustrated, that will impact the morale of your team. Do what it takes to get the job done well, even if it means changing something on the fly.
GET WHAT YOU NEED AT MILLER’S
Are you gearing up for a new building project? From our lumber yard to our drywall, building materials, and steel framing departments, you can get what you need at Miller’s Building Supply. We even deliver to your site and have tools you can rent.
Once you receive our quality products and experience our great customer service, you’ll see why so many builders and remodelers come to Miller’s.
Check out our products online or visit us at 1819 East Monroe in Goshen.