As the construction manager, you don’t have the regular 9 to 5 job where you can clock out by five o’clock. Your job requires you to incorporate a set of skills and prepare for any challenge.
The construction manager must become more technical and with the help of software programs, your tasks are made easier. Still, even with up to date software programs, there is more to the daily operations of a manager’s job. As a good construction manager, you familiarize yourself with every facet needed to get the job done right down to a good guide to excavator attachments.
Here are seven tips on how to make your job run more smoothly.
Start with a plan.
We humans have always dreamed of building with grandeur in mind. Take King Louis XIV, for example, his building of Palace Versailles emptied the treasure. Without a well thought out plan, the cost may be too great a burdened. You must have a plan ready at all times even before any actual work is done. Be open to changing your plan at any moment. Planning ahead means that the chances of you the construction manager reaching your destination have increased.
Careful planning cuts down on your risk. Planning keeps you from losing out on major resources. When the time comes, you will know where every dime needs to be spent because you have already planned for where the money needed to be. Planning ahead means that everyone involved will know what their part is in your plan and won’t fumble in the dark.
Be Aware Of Any Potential Problems.
You must beware of anything that happens at the site or anything that might become a problem. Safety is vital to your job.
Communicate.
Communication is the next step that you need. You will need good communication with everyone involved so that any problems down the road will be minimized. Good communication involves you being a good listener. Always hear each member on your team out whether it is important or not and be willing to find a way to fix the problems that they’re concerned about on the job.
Ask Questions.
Good communication is important, but so is asking questions. Make sure you ask the right questions. Asking questions to your client is vital for you as the construction manager. Questions such as the deadline to a project, who is the client, who all will be involved in the work, are there any obstacles that could potentially get in the way. These are only some of the questions you must ask if you want to avoid major pitfalls.
Know the Area.
As a good construction manager, you must know the area well. By getting to know the area, you can be aware of potential problems. Problems such as the difficulty of getting material to the site. Spend time at your site before work actually starts, so that you can know how to deal with any questions that will pop up while you’re there.
Factor In Dangerous Waste Material.
If you’re working on restoring old buildings, then you may run into situations dealing with lead, asbestos, lead plumbing, radon, carbon dioxide, and other dangers. By not adding the cost of waste material, you run the risk of giving your client or yourself additional cost. You can diminish this problem by using construction software to help keep track of waste.
Stay Aware of All Safety Codes.
Make sure that you have all your safety and building code documented. Any documents of injuries must be shown to the inspector and remember an inspector can pop-up in a surprise visit at any time so have the proper paper documents at the site.
