Everything you need to know about finding a Construction Project Manager

If you are undertaking the process of building a new home or commercial building, or even just undergoing extensive renovations to these, it can help to have a project manager working with you to help ensure that the whole project goes off without a hitch. Here’s everything that you need to know about construction project management and how it can benefit you.

About Construction Project Management

In any construction project, from a small residential home building through to multi storey commercial projects, the aim is to achieve a finished product or building that is of the highest quality possible, that is safe to live in, that meets your budget, and that is completed on time.  Essentially, construction project management coordinates and manages the entire building process from start to finish.  The best way to ensure that this happens is to choose a construction project management specialist.  Such specialists include construction project management firms and qualified project managers but you will also find that architects, interior designers, builders, and other similar professionals can undertake the job of construction project management quite successfully.  Alternatively, you can do it yourself but it is a very involved process.

Construction Project Management Services

Construction project management specialists can provide a range of services to you as a residential or commercial client. These include:

• Managing the project from start to finish
• Ensuring that the construction is completed to the required standards
• Ensuring that you, the client, are happy with the finished project and that all your requirements are met
• Supervising the construction process
• Controlling the finances and budget associated with the project and ensuring that payments are made on time (either full payments or partial payments)
• Ensuring that the project is being completed according to the schedule that has been set out
• Liaising with the client (you) and all consultants and tradespeople that are involved in the project
• Evaluating and managing the tender process
• Managing all the contracts that are a part of the building process
• Minimising disruptions to neighbouring buildings and homes
• Choosing a Construction Project Management Specialist

When you are choosing an individual or firm that specialises in construction project management, there are some things that you need to look out for.  Firstly, make sure that they are friendly and easy to communicate with.  This is important as they will be your main point of contact throughout the construction project and you need to be able to talk with them about all aspects of this.  They should also be very efficient and provide you with a top quality service as well as the best finished product as humanly possible.

Of course, you should also find out what they charge in order to provide these services.  Ask them for a written quote that details all aspects of what they include as part of their services.  Yes, a construction project management specialist is an additional cost to your building project that you will have to budget for, but the services that they provide mean that the whole project can be done more efficiently and with fewer delays, saving you money in these areas.

Ideally, you should be able to get extensive references from your construction project management specialist as well. This will give you an idea of how they work and the types of results that they are able to achieve.  Naturally, the construction project management specialist should be fully qualified and licensed and they should have full professional indemnity insurance cover.

How Much Does Construction Project Management Cost?

Project managers can charge for their services in two ways - firstly quoting a flat fee which is often based on a percentage of the total build cost. More experienced project managers will charge more - with 10 per cent a typical fee, though this could be more for bigger projects. For smaller projects expect to be quoted an hourly fee. A point to bear in mind is that costs such as council fees and survey are not normally included in a project manager's rate.