Avoid costly mistakes during your home improvements: hire a project manager
Organisation is key
to project managing
Hiring a project manager will contribute to the success of any kind of construction work. Whether you are renovating, building, adding an extension or making other improvements to a property, organisation and planning are key elements. Still not sure if you need a project manager? Then read on.
What is a project manager?
A project manager is a professional who oversees the whole home improvement project. They deal with planning, design and conception and completion - making sure that the entire process runs smoothly. It is common sense that you should spend as much time planning a construction project as you do actually completing the work, so attention to detail, organisation and communication are key skills a good project manager will possess.
Tom Green, of Greenward Associates in Bournemouth, agrees that project managing is all about organisation, getting all the background information and looking at every area of the work.
He explains: “A project manager/contract administrator will have to deal with health and safety issues, administration, time scales, dealing with contractors and checking the work
that has been done.”
What does being a project manager entail?
- Working with the client to find out exactly what they want and agreeing a brief for the work
- Working out the costing by finding the best prices for labour, materials and fittings
- Appointing contractors
- Contracting procedures
- Advising the client on legal and environmental concerns
- Advising the client about any building regulations
- Producing surveys and obtaining approvals
- Organising planning permission
- Sourcing the best priced materials
- Devising an efficient plan to make sure that contractors arrive at the right point in the project, as do the materials
- Dealing with health and safety issues
How to choose a project manager
When hiring a project manager it is important to make sure that the person is qualified and insured. Tom, who has had extensive experience in project management and contract administration, states: “A project manager must be a professionally qualified person, like a chartered architect, and have ten plus years experience in the building industry. They have to be well experienced and well insured, so that if any mistakes happen, they are covered.”
Project managing is not something that can be taught; it comes from years of practise and experience in the construction, surveying or architectural fields. Professional project managers have learned from their mistakes and are fully insured to deal with any problems that do arise.
Although it is not compulsory, a project manager may be a member of a certified body like the Chartered Institute of Architectural Technologists (CIAT), the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA). Members of these associations will have the relevant training and experience, be covered for insurance and will follow strict codes of best practice.
Adrian Dobson, RIBA’s Director of Practice, says that: “Chartered architects are skilled in project management...they can offer creative and technical design skills, professional knowledge to navigate the various regulatory processes and project management expertise to facilitate delivery of your project on time and budget, to a design brief which meets your lifestyle and practical requirements.”
Why do you need a project manager?
You may need a project manager
with architectural experience
Some people may think that they can cut back on costs by managing a project themselves. However, this could lead to you actually spending more money on the project if things go wrong.
“If you’re thinking about managing a project yourself - don’t do it,” says Tom. “I deal with adjudications and most of the work I see is where people have tried to do the job themselves and it has all gone wrong. At the moment I am dealing with someone who is building a hotel and has lost thousands of pounds because of poor management. ”
Without the help of a fully qualified and experienced project manager you could end up with spiralling costs, legal problems and shoddy workmanship. So why take the chance?
How much does hiring a project manager cost?
Costs will vary depending on what your project is and how long it takes. It is important to make sure that you agree a fee and draw up a contract before work begins. Tom Green of Greenward Associates explains: “We charge a percentage of the contract sum, for example, if the build costs £200,000 we would charge 5%. It varies depending on how big the project is and how much the build costs. Some companies charge an hourly rate to try and make as much money as possible - don’t go for these companies, it’s dangerous.”
AB
