Tips for project managing your self-build
Most of the projects we work on are self-builds. Self-build in this context means a one-off house, designed and built on your own building plot. For some brave and hardy folk, this will involve actually carrying out the building work. The majority of our clients though, will work with a main contractor, who will be responsible for carrying out and coordinating all of the on site stages. Through this process, we will take on a Contract Administrator role, which means we administer an industry standard contract between client and builder - checking and reporting on progress and workmanship regularly.
In some cases our clients have opted to project manage, or coordinate their own build, which means working with individual trades rather than a single contractor. Think groundworker, bricklayer, joiner, roofer, plumber & electrician. This can be a rewarding, and importantly, a cost-saving route. However, it is crucial to recognise that taking up a management role on a building project will be time consuming, will attract additional liability, and is usually not the quickest route to completion. In short, it’s not for everyone.
That said, where the appetite is there, we’ve found that the key to ensuring things run smoothly, is building a trustworthy team around good relationships. This applies to the design stage as much as it does to the construction stage. Clear information, clear communication, and a collaborative mentality are essential to success. These are all things that are embedded in how we work.
During the construction stage, keeping an oversight of the building sequence is fundamental, and the best way to do this is to develop and maintain a ‘master programme’ to work out what you need to start, and when. Make sure that you share this with your builders ahead of time. Ask them (and your architect) for their input. At key stages in the process, get everyone around the table to discuss and agree the programme.
When taking on a project management role, we have found through experience that it’s best to have a well-documented, ‘complete’, package of drawings and specification. This means that all key elements of the construction phase should be drawn and described in detail before starting on site. Investing in this work ahead of time will help to ensure that tradesmen have a clear and accurate scope of work on which to base their costing. Perhaps most importantly, it will also help to avoid costly mistakes during the build. This does mean that you’ll need to try and limit changes on site where possible (although this is something we always recommend in any case).
Here are some of our tips on project management;
Make sure all tradesmen have a clear ‘scope of work’ and an agreed timeframe.
Where possible, use contractors that come with the best recommendations, rather than the cheapest.
Provide contractors with an architectural specification that sets out all the requirements.
Put the scope and deliverables in writing – ideally using an industry standard ‘Homeowner Contract’ for larger elements of work.
Get your building team lined up early, and timetable meetings on site to agree consecutive start dates and completion dates for each key trade.
Remember to take out the appropriate insurances.
Work closely with your appointed design professionals throughout the construction stage.
Get in touch if you’ve got a project you’d like to discuss, or if you’d like some more information on building your own home. We work across Scotland from our studios in Glasgow and the Scottish Highlands.