I’ve seen a good amount of feedback on construction management, but some comments I recently stumbled upon from Atlanta-based Mosaic Group’s David Shepard were more “real-life” than any other I’ve ever seen. Regardless of economic condition of the market, these tips hold true in just about any commercial construction practice focused on advancing as a business.
1. Stay on top of your lead times for materials before a job begins
If these timelines are overlooked, certificates of occupancy are held up which delays a tenant’s move into a space. This not only hinders the tenant’s operational schedule, but also makes the vendors in line to finalize work on site behind pace. Delays create unforeseen costs – to avoid this, material procurement planning is essential. Wherever applicable, performing steps simultaneously or ahead of time can be a life-saver.
2. Garner an education of building codes
Shepard points out that if you catch lapses and fix them prior to inspection, you can save precious time. Although specifics are dependent on the municipality regulating the site, contractors can anticipate plumbing, water/sewer, electrical, property maintenance, and traffic codes among others to abide by.
3. Understand clients as separate and independent, and treat them in this light
I have to say I like this tip best. In the hustle of the job-to-job shuffle, even the best GC forgets that clients are essentially – just people. People have different needs and are complex. If you treat everyone the same in a relationship (business or not), there’s a limited prospect of success. Through understanding each clients’ unique needs and recalling these distinctions in project execution, there’s a substantial opportunity for more favorable outcomes.
4. Be open to new trends and products to make life easier, but research before integration
It goes without saying being informed of upcoming trends to make life easier is imperative. Before jumping the gun, however, a wise construction manager will do their homework. See if you know any business partners using similar tools and gain their insight. It’s not worth the risk to gamble on a new technology you’re unsure of without seeking a trusted resource’s thoughts beforehand.
Even the strongest construction project professionals need a reality-check every now and again. With these tips, the importance of staying on schedule and maintaining morale is refreshed.
Sources referenced:
https://www.probuilder.com/8-steps-construction-manager-success