Four Things To Know Before Pre-Construction

Pre-construction is the time to plan your project. But it is also one where you can hit potential problems.

By following these four basic principles you can help keep on track with planning your job.

THE CONVERSATION: PERSONAL LIABILITY

It might be a slightly awkward subject to broach, but personal liability insurance is something that is considered a standard across the construction business.

From larger, general contractors, to small local businesses, individuals working within construction should really be taking this insurance out. It can also cover your crew and equipment.

Personal liability insurance is there for a reason, so use it!

THE BUDGET: GETTING IT SET

You need to know your budget from the word go. This works both ways.

The customer needs to share with you the amount they are prepared to spend and you also need to give them a realistic figure for your costs.

Nobody wants any uncertainty or nasty surprises halfway through a project.

Add up all the costs now. That is including staff costs, resources, materials and any permit charges you will incur.

If you find this sort of projection difficult, there are a number of online budgeting tools designed to help you.

THE FLY IN THE WORKS: PEST PLAN

You might not be planning for an infestation, but you should be.

Pests can cause huge damage to your materials and project, but you shouldn’t let them.

Don’t wait for a pest to cause your next job an expensive headache. Try and meet the problem face on.

This means taking some action now to pest proof the site where you are going to be working.

Even though it will add onto your budget, this is an insurance policy you cannot afford to go without.

Have a trustworthy pest control company on board, to back up any problems that you might encounter. Have the place checked for infestations prior to commencing work.

You might just be glad that you did!

THE SCHEDULE: PROJECT MANAGEMENT TIMELINE

Keeping a project to schedule is not going to happen all by itself.

The first thing you need to do, in the pre-construction period, is to actually draw up and agree on a timeline with your client.

This means identifying all the things that need to happen in order to get the work completed in a timely fashion.

Things like making sure all the relevant permits have been applied for are paramount to the smooth running of a project. Not having them can really add to delay, and this is something you will be anxious to avoid.

Making a realistic plan for how many man hours your project will require is essential.

Don’t forget also keep your customer – and crew- in the loop about what is happening and when.

Clear communication is essential to keep to your timeline without causing any unnecessary stress.