Keeping a building project on time and on budget

Very few building projects go wrong because of one big event. Most fall behind slowly: a delivery a few days late, a decision that waits for a week, a change agreed verbally and priced later. Project management is the set of habits that catches these early.

A programme everyone can read

• Break the work into stages with start and finish dates.
• Show dependencies: what must finish before the next stage starts.
• Mark key dates, such as inspections, deliveries and handover.
• Update it when things change, and share the updated version.

Budget tied to stages

• Compare spend against budget at each stage, not only at the end.
• Pay against completed and checked work.
• Keep a contingency and record what it is used for.

Changes in writing

Changes are normal. Problems come when they are not recorded. For each change, write down:

1. What is changing and why
2. The effect on cost
3. The effect on time
4. Who approved it, and when

Regular reporting

A short weekly report keeps owners informed, especially those who cannot visit often:

• Work completed this week, with photos
• Work planned for next week
• Issues and decisions needed
• Budget position

Quality and safety

• Inspect work at each stage before it is covered up.
• Keep a list of defects and close them before handover.
• Make sure the site is safe for workers and visitors.

Handover

At the end, the owner should receive:

• Final drawings showing what was built
• Guarantees, manuals and supplier details
• A list of any outstanding items, with dates

A client portal that keeps the programme, messages, documents, invoices and receipts in one place makes these habits easier for everyone.