In this blog post, we will discuss 4 mistakes you should avoid on construction projects: delays; Preconstruction, Poor Management & Records
Construction projects are long and complicated. There is a lot to do, from planning to execution. But there are common problems that people make when launching construction projects, which can lead to costly mistakes down the line.
In this blog post, we will discuss 4 mistakes you should avoid on construction projects: not tracking delays properly; spending inadequate time and resources at preconstruction stage; employing management that are ineffective; and not keeping good records.
All of these mistakes can be avoided by following a few simple rules outlined in this post!
We have previously written a blog post highlighting
10 Things to Ensure Your Construction Project is Successful and More Profitable
in addition to our blog outlining
Who I Am and Why the Subcontractor Hub we hope this may also be of use to you.
1. Not tracking construction delays properly.
Construction delays happen on nearly every project, and the sooner you know about them, the better.
What are some common construction delays? Here is a sample list: unexpected weather; poor management of tradespeople (i.e., lack of supervision); delay in obtaining planning permission or other required documentation; unforeseen site conditions- for example, ground too wet to work on, or a nearby construction site that is making noise.
But how can you track delays when they happen? The first step is to document the delay as soon as it happens.
2. Inadequate time and resources are spent at the preconstruction stage.
A construction project is only as strong as its plans, so it’s important to get them right from the start.
The preconstruction stage of a construction project consists of many activities and processes that need to be completed before work begins on site. This includes-
Site investigation, risk assessment and management; site supervision and inspection; design development; specification of materials and construction methods.
If these activities are not completed thoroughly in the preconstruction stage it can lead to a number of problems onsite.
3. Utilising site & project management that are ineffective
The management of a construction project is as important, if not more so, than the construction itself. The management process includes planning and organising resources; setting objectives for the team to work towards; monitoring progress against these targets – all with the goal of ensuring that deadlines are met and delivering quality products on time.
If ineffective leadership can lead to delays on site, the quality of workmanship will also suffer.
Following these management guidelines can help to avoid this:
- Ensuring that team members have clear objectives and deadlines for their work with regular reviews. This ensures they are motivated to meet targets without any undue pressure being placed on them or people feeling like they’re just working without a purpose.
- Managing the project as an ongoing process and continuously monitoring progress, with team members being held accountable for their work (i.e., not just reporting on what’s been done so far but also taking responsibility to make sure it is completed). Everyone should be aware of where we are in relation to our objectives at any given point in time.
- Using project management software to track tasks, resources and progress towards targets will help ensure that nothing falls through the cracks and it’s easier for team members to know what they need to do next. This also allows managers of construction projects more visibility into how things are progressing with a focus on delivering results.
4. Not keeping good project records
A project teams job is not complete until the entire team has documented their work. Keeping a good track of what was done, where and how much it cost can be vital in preventing other mistakes from happening down the line while also making sure that when things are completed they’re on time and within budget.
- If you don’t keep good records, you’re going to have a hard time keeping track of everything that needs to be done.
- It’s very important for construction projects because when things fall through the cracks and aren’t recorded properly it can cause major problems down the line with management or budgets
- In addition if there are any changes needed later on then documentation is necessary so that you can calculate the cost of what it would take to make those changes.
Keeping good records is an essential part of any project from pre construction through to completion.
To recap
We’ve mentioned 4 mistakes that you should try to avoid on your construction projects. These are not easy things to do in a complicated environment like construction, but they can be avoided by following these few simple rules outlined above. If you want help executing your project successfully and avoiding costly mistakes down the line, get in touch with us! We would love to partner with you and make this happen for you.
To find out more on who we are and Why the Subcontractor Hub
If you also want to know more about Construction Business Made Simple, click on this link.
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