If you are a construction contractor, you may get stressed when there’s a delay. One delay can lead to a chain of reactions. For instance, when there’s a late availability of labor, work will start late, breaking the timeline. Let’s say you have the workforce but don’t have enough resources. Again, there’ll be delays since, without materials, your labor is useless.
You are answerable to the client, who delegates the services to you. Therefore, it’s unwise to sit on the issue and complain. To handle the shortages, unavailability, or delays, you need to think smart and be proactive.
Here are some helpful tips that can help you with construction slowdowns:
Right Estimation
Budget is the first essential thing to consider while calculating costs for the project. Moreover, if you are not able to project what materials you need, things can go haywire. You have to thoroughly work out the bidding process. There are various types of project cost estimates. A good and proper estimate helps people like you to complete projects on time. And, the customer also does not need to pay more. You must give an accurate projection, as you also need to extract your profits out of it.
Materials, labor, equipment, and tools differ from project to project. You have to ensure that everything meets quality standards. One compromise in any of these can cause loss of reputation for you and physical losses to your customer. Thus, if you project right, there will be no delay.
Use a design-build system to get the best results for the project. It helps prevent delays as well as cost overruns, amongst many other things. Ascertain everything then and there. If something does not work for the customer, you can work it out in an alternate manner almost immediately.
Clear Communication
You need to communicate with all involved in a planned manner. This applies to all aspects of life. And, construction is no different. You need to strategize every single day. Take briefing sessions for your workers first thing before they resume work in the mornings. Engage with clients every day about every single thing. Ask for their viewpoints and work on their complaints. Create a group on a social communication platform to keep a tab on everything. That way, you will also have a written note of what’s happening.
The owner of the property may request a sudden change the very next day. Thus, you may have things to change all of a sudden. Inform that the workers’ supervisor immediately. Mobile technology can serve you in documenting everything from start to finish. Unforeseen situations also crop up. At that time, you need to assess the situation and inform the owners or stakeholders. Change orders and redesigns are a part of construction projects.
Role Delegation
There will be more people working under you on the site. Sub-contractors and line workers are the ones who are directly involved in the work. Delegate the roles and responsibilities to each person in a well-documented and planned way. Moreover, you need to hold people accountable for their work. If you miss out on this, things could remain incomplete. And, you would have no one to blame or hold responsible.
The project plan and timeline are heavily reliant on how you delegate responsibilities. You have to get buy-in before you start the work. Moreover, you have to solicit proper feedback. Otherwise, you will be back to square one.
Design Reviews
Design reviews are an essential part of the construction business. An error in a small area of the design may crop up only in the end stages of the project. These may be minor glitches with massive repercussions. Moreover, such things can end up blocking project completion. Therefore, it is essential to review and re-review the project in the initial stages of the construction project.
Sometimes, builders and contractors hastily complete the stage to get the advance payments and start work. However, you can get consistent results only when you team up your efforts with proper planning. It is insurance for your project. It is here that the right team is also roped in. The choice of workers guides the task at times.
Approval Management
If you keep waiting for approvals for small things, your project may be delayed. Moreover, the crew needs to sit on the issue, and that leads to wastage of man-hours. Sometimes, people don’t realize that one ‘No’ or ‘Yes’ can have huge effects on timelines. Therefore, you need to provide the approvers, like owners, or partners, a deadline. That should make it easy for you.
You can avoid constructions delays if you put the above into force. Delays can still happen, but you can proactively handle them to get the proper solutions.