Self-Managing Home Renovation: Common Mistakes Done

A home remodelling or renovation project is not as easy as it may sound. Renovating a building is not simply all about how it will look or function, but most significantly you have to deal with what kind of materials are utilized during the renovation, how are you going to work with your suppliers and contractors, etc. These of course will be handled by the person who will manage the project. Thus before a renovation project starts, one of the most vital decisions to be made is who will manage the project.

You can either hire a professional who will do the work or alternatively, you can supervise the project yourself. If you opt to manage the work yourself, make sure that you have sufficient experience to deal with this. According to Gail La Grouw, the following are some common mistakes done by owners who have decided to take over the role of managing the renovation project themselves,

1. Poor Planning

Creating a good plan is a important part of your role as a project manager. The success of the project mostly depend on this. Your plan must include as much detail as possible. You have to consider planning for contingencies as well.

2. Poor Materials Management

Purchasing of the appropriate materials at the right time is a large task during renovation. Think about this task properly, as it can be a cause of delay to your schedule. You can also incur additional cost if you do not have your materials at the needed time.

3. Poor Record Keeping

Lodge everything particularly things that have to do with finances. Record keeping must be completed everyday. You surely will miss something in your list if you do it in an inconsistent way. Record keeping will also let you know exactly where you are in terms of time and dollars against the plan specification.

4. Not Managing The Work Site

Most subcontractors are trying to cut cost by ignoring a number of regulations and workplace safety items. This is a bad thing of course. Make sure that there is a proper insurance for their area of work.

5. Poor Communication

As home owners are not that knowledgeable with terms being used for renovation, miscommunication can occur along the way. Make sure that when you do not understand things, clear it up, but never loose your confidence in front of your contractors of course.

6. Poor Change Management Control

All changes made during the renovation process must be documented and sign off.

7. Not Keeping Check of the Budget

Keep an eye with your budget, as most projects will overrun the initial estimate, make sure to add some percentage of your budget for your contingency plans.

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