Planning is essential when building a structure, no matter how simple or complex. Every construction project has many layers, and each section must be handled on time and with precision for the next step to take place. If anything is out of alignment, it can mean delays or — worse — danger.

Construction work must be completed in set phases and performed promptly but unrushed. The many moving parts interact and depend on each other for stability and efficiency. Here, we’ll walk you through planning a successful construction project from phase one to completion.

1. Find Your Team

It might take a village to raise children, but it takes an entire construction management team to raise a structure. Surround yourself with experts who make each phase of the project simpler and more efficient. You’ll want to work with top architects, engineers, construction workers, and professional managers who know the ins and outs of the construction process.

As you interview and choose your team, consider these roles and the importance they play in your finished project:

• The project owner. This may be you, or whoever begins and finances the project. They likely don’t have hands-on roles, but supervise from a birds-eye view, making decisions as necessary.
• The project manager. This role is crucial, involving planning, coordinating, bidding, controlling budgets, and supervising the work.
• The construction team. Hiring a team of experts who already have an established system streamlines the work for you. They have a connection to architects, engineers, and other vital people who can answer your questions and suggest more efficient options, such as slab-on-grade foundation (as discussed in this article by FMP Construction) or a more eco-friendly alternative to your current solutions.

With the right team, your construction process, complete with obstacles and all, will run as smoothly as possible.

2. Get the Bid

Although your team may do this for you, the next step is to select the contractor via a bidding process, either an open (publicly advertised) or closed (offered only to a select group of contractors). 

Using the blueprints and material take-off (MTO) you provide, the general contractors will submit a bid. The chosen contractor may be the one with the lowest bid, vest value, or top qualifications. Each of these bid types has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. Evaluate what the bid includes, and decide which option is right for your project.

From there, a payment agreement contract is created (see step three) and signed. The bidding process is over, and it’s time to start the work.

3. Choose Your Software

Once a cumbersome, complicated process that required hands-on work to create blueprints and time-consuming calculations, today’s construction projects benefit from construction management software. This makes the planning process easier and predicts challenges and problems that can save you time and resources and prevent dangerous situations.

Construction software minimizes repetition in everything from contracts to invoicing. Labor, supply costs, material inventory, and other essentials are easily tracked. Cloud storage makes everything accessible on- and off-site and communication is completed in real-time.

Creating contracts is an integral part of the construction process. You’re completing a legal agreement that includes the project scope, payment terms, and roles. The fine print is crucial, and your software can help you ensure you don’t skip anything.

4. Determine the Delivery

Your team of construction experts and the project management software combine in this final step before any ground is broken. Here, you’ll determine the project scope, milestones, and final deliverables, as well as who is in charge at each step.

Be sure to include the project initiation phase with plenty of time to determine due diligence for possible problems or risks. Once the project is approved as feasible, you’ll communicate the timeline, milestones, resources, and budget.

The planning phase solidifies the work breakdown, risk management plans, schedule, project budget, and cost management steps. When everyone is on board and knows their role and deadlines, the execution of the plan is ready.

5. The Work Begins

The “final” stage, which can take anywhere from weeks to years, is the execution of the plan. The more carefully designed the plan was, the more efficient this phase is likely to be, although unexpected obstacles can often arise in construction.

Within this phase, it’s necessary to handle deliverables on time, manage and track construction resources, and monitor the budget. Communication between the stakeholders, project owner, and construction manager through frequent reporting ensures the work runs smoothly and any hiccups are addressed early.

This phase also requires ongoing progress monitoring. Technology makes this part easier than ever, as construction managers and stakeholders can observe the work as it is completed using construction software and drones. It isn’t always necessary to “helicopter” monitor the construction work, but checking in periodically ensures everyone is on the same page and delays are minimized.

When the structure is complete, the final stages of the construction process can be checked off, such as:

• Walkthroughs and final inspections
• Cleaning of debris
• Training the project owner on any equipment or technology
• Seasonal inspections
• Documentation of the finished structure, including the notice of completion, inspection reports, and certificate of occupancy

Uploading all of these documents and sharing them with the necessary recipients through your construction software makes this step seamless and lets you get on with the enjoyment of your finished project.

Conclusion

Construction projects are full of moving parts, depending on multiple people to do their jobs timely and optimally. Risk management is crucial, as safety is always a concern. With these phases of construction planning, you can move forward knowing you’ve done everything possible to reach a successful, safe, and budget-friendly finished structure.