Other building general contractors in your industry may tell you that managing a construction project is exhausting, complicated, and energy-consuming. However, once you’ve completed a few projects and got the hang of it, utilizing careful planning with today’s tools can help you do your job more efficiently.
When you successfully manage a project, you will be able to finish it on time and within your budget. The following are some of the methods you should use in your project management work to increase your chances of success to be an effective general contractor:
Table of Contents
1. Communication is the Key
Construction projects typically involve numerous parties, including lead contractors, project owners, subcontractors, architects, vendors, and back-office staff, all of whom must be kept up to date on the project’s progress.
You must ensure that all project stakeholders communicate effectively. Transparent communication ensures that the project runs smoothly and reduces the number of phone calls and emails.
You can improve communication by implementing a centralized communication system. This allows you to synchronize documents, photos, and calendars all in one place. From there, you can keep track of costs, updates, and changes as they happen. A centralized communication system simplifies access to project information.
2. Time Management is a Must
Things that need to be done right away should come before things that can be done later. You shouldn’t worry about things that aren’t very important right now.
In order to use your time wisely, you may need to give some tasks to other people on your team. If you have the right people on your team, you don’t have to manage every little detail. You only need to get feedback on a regular basis and trust the people you’ve delegated to make decisions and do their jobs.
3. Gather the Right People for the Tasks
After all the details for starting the project have been worked out, you need to put together a good project team. Find people with the right talents, skills, and personalities for each job. Each person should know exactly what is expected of them and what they need to do to finish the project.
As the general contractor, it’s your job to make sure the team works well together and to coach everyone on the team. Once you have the right people, keep them inspired and motivated, whether things are going well or there are problems. You need to use your leadership skills to deal with the problems the project is facing.
4. Document Everything
From the start of the project, documentation needs to be set up, kept up to date, and easy to track. When a milestone is reached, everyone involved needs to sign the documents before they can be filed. With a document management system, you can keep track of all your documents and make sure none of them get lost. With the audited supporting documents, you can avoid possible conflicts, delays in projects, or legal problems.
5. Master Negotiation Skills
If you want to make it in the field of project management and general contracting, you need to get good at negotiating. You need to know how to persuade suppliers, subcontractors, customers, and the rest of the project team. You need to use facts to show everyone that your idea is the best.
6. Prioritize Employees’ Safety
If you want to make a lot of money from the construction project, it’s important that your workers are safe. Don’t take shortcuts, check that the braces are in place, and use the recommended construction tools. Mistakes and carelessness can seriously hurt your workers or passersby, which could lead to a lawsuit.
7. Know The Terms And Conditions
Once you’ve won the contract, make sure you read it carefully and fully understand it before you sign it and start the project. The more you know about the terms and conditions, the better you can deal with disagreements that aren’t covered by the contract.
If you want to be a general contractor, you’ll be responsible for managing the construction process from start to finish. This includes hiring subcontractors, ordering materials, and ensuring that the project stays on schedule and within budget. While it may seem like a lot of work, careful planning and utilizing today’s tools can help make your job more efficient.
