6 ways of a construction project manager save your time and your money

Karolline Dutra
Jan 9, 2022
4 min read

Updated: Aug 7, 2023

You cannot start a construction project unless you know you will be able to finish it without wasting time and money. But how can you guarantee that this doesn't happen to you? Find out how a project manager can help you.

One of the most costly problems a project can face is a delay that causes a delay in your current space, making you not able to move from your old space until the rental end date, whether it's a home or a business . Also in commercial buildings, the delay in the work can put your business at risk, preventing you from starting to receive the money back by investing in the allotted time.

Once the viability study has been carried out and the project owner, that is, the construction owner, has the architectural design and project specialties in hand, it is necessary to choose a project manager to guide and give all the guidelines at the stage of pre-construction to closure.

Sometimes the manager is hired only in pre-construction phase to ensure that the budget is well done and the work teams are well chosen, or halfway through, when this initial step has been carried out and the execution will need to be monitored until delivery. Of course, this way it is not totally guaranteed that will save time and money in your project, but it guarantees better results.

Now we present you 6 ways a project manager can save your time and your money that proves why it is so important to you when it comes to building.

1. Pre-Construction Support

Construction project managers are experts in building codes and regulations that will affect your project and are able to use this knowledge to look for complications that could result in your project accumulating costly setbacks in the future. When these problems appear in the middle of construction, there can be great losses.

Therefore, having a project manager who can bring these issues forward during the decision-making process can lead to significant savings, both in terms of time and money.

2. Budget and Contractors Selection

In a perfect world, every desired fixture and finish would fit into your budget. While this is rarely the case, a project manager is able to optimize your budget and achieve the overall desired effect of your project. Often times, this comes in the form of advising where to cut costs and value engineer solutions that will work in your real estate investment.

Most construction projects follow the project-tender-build model. First, the project owner obtains the design from architects or engineers. Once the client has a blueprint and bill of quantities for construction, the next step is to select the general contractor through the tender process. The manager will select the best contractors with the best proposals according to what fits in the client's budget.

3. Market Connection

The key to your connection to the market is the project manager. He/she is familiar with the market rates for each component of a building and will use their knowledge and relationships to help your company maximize value throughout the project. This may mean ensuring that the proposed rates for the work are competitive with market rates and that selected suppliers and contractors will provide quality work. This experience will help you get the maximum return on your investment throughout the project.

4. Construction Planning

In the planning stage, project managers create detailed schedules that define delivery dates and milestones throughout the life of the project, along with defining tasks and resources, allowing progress to be tracked and thus identifying opportunities to avoid conflicts or setbacks .

As soon as the project owner, ie the construction owner, has the drawings, budget, schedule, minimally chosen contractors and the site director, then execution can begin.

5. Site Supervision and Site Management Support

The project manager will be your eyes at the time of execution. He will certify that the work is being done in accordance with the work drawings, as well as that it is on time and within budget.

The manager will carry out the Change Control Process, that is, the control of any changes proposed by him or by the technicians, whether they are the site manager, architects, design engineers, among others. Minutes of meetings will be made with all the details of the new requirements and also budgets for work too few so that you don't have financial surprises.

This professional will also be responsible for preparing a series of reports so that you can monitor the progress of the work, as well as organizing all the documents to be issued related to the construction. Repeatable processes are implemented for engagement teams and stakeholders to submit and manage documentation. This will help ensure that the team follows a constant flow of work so they can better track and manage documentation.

6. Project Delivery

The project manager will ensure that the construction is delivered in compliance. Once construction is complete, he will certify that all requirements have been met and will normally provide a warranty period to make this agreement official and binding. From there, occupants can move or take ownership of the site.

Conclusion

The value of a construction project manager is immeasurable. From helping you choose the right space for building to managing all the other stages of construction, this professional can serve as an advocate for your interests. In addition to these reasons, there are countless others that prove why this professional will be so important to you in your dream project.

Guedu Atelier can guide you through all stages of construction so that your time and money are saved in the best way, and the project is successfully delivered. Contact us for more information.

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