{"id":7187,"date":"2020-07-25T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-07-25T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bxglobal.wpengine.com\/us\/the-must-haves-of-construction-estimating-and-project-management-software\/"},"modified":"2025-01-09T12:10:38","modified_gmt":"2025-01-09T17:10:38","slug":"construction-estimating-and-management-software","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.buildxact.com\/us\/blog\/construction-estimating-and-management-software\/","title":{"rendered":"Your guide to residential project management in the construction industry"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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What are the main stages of home construction projects?<\/h2>

Before diving into the details of how to better manage residential projects, let’s review the main stages of a construction project.<\/p>

These include concept, design, preconstruction, procurement, construction and post-construction. Each one of these stages of construction is an equally important part of the entire project management plan.<\/p>

1. Concept stage<\/h3>

Typically, as a home builder, or project manager, you will have started by consulting with planners, architects and engineers who have taken a homeowner’s idea to drawings and plans that ensure the overall design is proper for the proposed building site.<\/p>

Depending on the size and scope of the project, this project planning phase may mean consultations with town or city planners to ensure utilities can serve the proposed location of the build.<\/p>

You may also need to consult an estimator or do the project estimate yourself to determine if it’s financially viable for both you and the homeowner.<\/p>

The concept stage is one of the most important phases in the lead up to actual construction. It gets rough ideas onto paper for the first time and forces home builders and homeowners to agree on initial budget targets. Too often, project management in the construction industry is not given enough attention.<\/p>

Expect Early development challenges<\/h4>

A few common challenges pop up during this concept phase. These can include the following:<\/p>

Design flaws \u2014 it\u2019s important that you, any additional project managers, and your architect work together with your structural and civil engineers to create an architectural blueprint that\u2019s realistic;<\/p>

Bureaucracy \u2014 everyone hates bureaucracy, but it can be particularly frustrating when you\u2019re in the preconstruction phase and needed paperwork must clear. While this isn\u2019t necessarily your fault, it\u2019s a common, frustrating problem that can inflate project costs if not given proper attention.<\/p>

Poor-Defined Objectives\u2014another common challenge is communicating requirements and limitations to your client and contractors – whether you\u2019ve failed in this respect or members of your team have – not having clearly-defined goals that are documented can slow things down for the entire project.<\/p>

2. Design Stage<\/h3>

The next planning stage is the design, where you build the actual project specifications. In this stage, you\u2019ll hammer out your concepts and start talking in more detail with architects and engineers.<\/p>

As one of the 6 stages of the construction project, your design phase will take on the challenge of getting monetary figures and drawings on how large the home will be, its shape and size, the number of rooms, how the rest of the space will be used, and so on.<\/p>

This phase allows you to determine exactly how it will be done and even what materials you\u2019ll use. The colors of various materials you\u2019ll use (interior and exterior) and the pricing of those materials.<\/p>

Common Challenges in design development<\/h4>

A few main challenges can crop up during the design stage. These include:<\/p>

Inconsistencies in measurements across different types of blueprints. Your architect will need to make these measurements again to solve for discrepancies;<\/p>

Over or Under-Estimation\u2014you make money by providing accurate estimates using various tools. However, this estimate is just that – an estimate – and can be under or over based on factors outside of your control, like material price changes. More on this later;<\/p>

Misreading of blueprints by other subcontractors who will do work based on those designs. Electricians and home builders sometimes misread each other\u2019s design plans;<\/p>

Structural design errors crop up due to misreading or misinterpreting (sometimes) vague building code language. Consult your planning phase team and the town or city building code department if this becomes a problem.<\/p>

3. Preconstruction Stage<\/h3>

The preconstruction stage is where you\u2019ll build your project team. The project team begins as the core group that will carry your project forward through the next construction process stages.<\/p>

By this point, the building site will have been chosen and approved and your homeowner has approved your bid based on a detailed estimate.<\/p>

Site & Foundation Preparation<\/h4>

One of the integral construction stages of building a house is the site visit, where the soil is tested – this is done to test for any contaminants that prevent successful well drilling, ensure ample room for a septic drain field if needed, or check that soils cannot possibly endanger the structural integrity of the home’s foundation.<\/p>

Preconstruction is the last opportunity to check the site. Often, final tests are done after you pour test footings of the foundations. Once you’ve planned and framed your project’s foundation, plumbing and drainage will also be planned and installed during this process.<\/p>

Rough Framing<\/h4>

Rough framing will also occur during this process based on your measurements. This means timbers will go up to rough measurements, and the house\u2019s exterior shape will begin to take place. This is also true if you\u2019re building an addition.<\/p>

Common preconstruction Challenges<\/h4>

There are a few common challenges when conducting the preconstruction phase of any project. These can include:<\/p>

Labor shortages\u2014One of the hurdles facing almost every home construction company is labor shortages. This shortage means that site work, such as rough framing, may be delayed considerably if your contractor is experiencing issues due to this shortage. Be sure to consult with them before awarding them the contract;<\/p>

Material shortages\u2014Another huge challenge to the preconstruction phase of projects is material shortages. It’s important to plan far ahead when purchasing materials from your dealer to ensure the best price and timely delivery.<\/p>

4. Procurement Stage<\/h3>

The procurement stage is also where construction companies can run afoul of the current construction industry climate. A variety of challenges include.<\/p>

Lengthy procurement cycles\u2014due to the uncertain market – at times high demand, low supply for certain materials – you may find that you\u2019re quoted with weeks or months-long delays for specific materials.<\/p>

Cost fluctuations\u2014again, blame the market! You may discover that materials you were quoted a few months ago have now skyrocketed in price. This may force you to make different material choices depending on budget allowances. Don’t forget to communicate those changes to the homeowner in a timely fashion.<\/p>

Quality assurance\u2014while this is not necessarily your responsibility, one of the common challenges facing procurement departments is quality assurance.<\/p>

5. Construction Stage<\/h3>

The construction stage is where the rubber meets the road. It\u2019s where you\u2019ll start to see your project come to life.<\/p>

This phase is usually one of the longest construction phases of building a house. It takes months to come to fruition. It\u2019s also the most rewarding part of the construction process stages.<\/p>

Common Challenges<\/h4>

When it comes to the final stages of your construction project, you\u2019re bound to encounter some unforeseen issues. Here are some common challenges during the construction stages of building a house.<\/p>

Health And Safety\u2014this is one of the biggest of any construction company owner out there. The health and safety of your employees are always your top priority. In the construction phase, an accident can occur, which can severely injure one of your valuable team members and cause huge delays in the project;<\/p>

Linear Process Delays\u2014the construction phase of any project is the longest one. It is also a linear process, meaning that schedules must be planned and executed in the proper order;<\/p>

The Weather\u2014everyone who works in construction hates that they\u2019re at the mercy of Mother Nature. Certain construction phases won\u2019t proceed in heavy rain or blinding heat.<\/p>

6. Post-construction Stage<\/h3>

The post-construction stage is the final stage of the construction phase plan. The post-construction phase is where the build is completed and the new owner eventually takes possession. However, there are several steps to go through:<\/p>

Performance And Monitoring<\/h3>

One of the key parts of this stage is monitoring the building once it’s finished for any signs of faults – this may require days or weeks. Meanwhile, other things can happen behind the scenes, such as contract closures, worker payments and equipment returns.<\/p>

Team meetings can occur to discuss what went well with the project and what didn\u2019t, and what changes can be made on the next project to help things run smoother – time is money, after all.<\/p>

Closure<\/h3>

Closing the project means delivering the keys for the new construction to the new owner, closing and sealing all contracts, and getting paid for the work completed.<\/p>

Common Challenges<\/h4>

Despite being the end of the line, closure brings challenges. These can include:<\/p>