As the old saying goes, time is money. This is something that couldn’t be truer as a builder – with reputation and naturally cost always on the line as soon as projects start to overrun.
Of course, there are umpteen reasons why a project will run beyond initial deadlines, with many of these completely out of your control. For example, if we hone in on the practicalities, cold weather can sometimes render some tasks bordering on the impossible.
However, while there are some points that you don’t have any control over, there are others which you can tinker with to boost your project efficiency. Through today’s post, we will now take a look at some of these to help your business prosper.
Fail to plan…
At the risk of inserting a cliché, we were almost reluctant to include this first point. Unfortunately, it needs doing, and in the building industry if you fail to plan, well, you know the rest.
In truth, we could pen an entire instructional manual revolving around the details of construction planning. Suffice to say, it’s a lean operation, and if we were to hone in on materials as an example, if you receive deliveries at the wrong time, it can have huge repercussions on your entire project. If they’re late, things might grind to a halt, while if they are early, do you have the required storage space to house them?
This is just the tip of the iceberg but try and plan every element long before your project kicks off.
Plan around seasonality
Next, there is the weather. We’ve already touched on this point, but as soon as the temperatures drop your ability to complete certain tasks does as well. It means you need to plan around them, and ultimately try and avoid jobs involving cement and other tricky materials during those colder months.
Granted, this isn’t always going to be possible. The point we’re trying to make is that if you have a work log of tasks, making sure that you prioritize certain ones during the warmer months is paramount to an efficient building project.
It’s all about the contractors
There have been all sorts of studies conducted about the efficiency of workers. There will most certainly be occasions where this drops due to reasons out of your control and without trying to bang the same drum, the cold weather is one such occasion. There’s little you can do around this, although there are some really good guides out there that you can refer to which can at least show how you can keep workers more comfortable, and potentially boost their efficiency during winter as a result.
There’s plenty more to this issue though, and sometimes the best advice is to just listen to your contractors. As they progress with the job, they will learn more and more about what makes it tick. Ultimately, they are your eyes and ears to a project, and listening to any concerns or suggestions they have can work wonders as you bid to take a project further.
Set realistic expectations with clients
Finally, sometimes increased project efficiency comes long before a brick was laid. In other words, it’s about those initial communications with the client.
Of course, you’re always going to try and sell your services, but do this with realistic timeframes. If you overpromise, you’ll find that deadlines are far too tight, and in the long-term, this is going to equate to a inefficient project.
