PROJECT MANAGEMENT/EXTENSIONS

The building process can often be a lengthy, complicated and costly business if it is not managed correctly.  Before the building process can start, plans must be drawn up and permission granted for the work by Building Control.   Once the project is underway there will be various trades-people on site all wishing to carry out their part of the project.  There are also other things to worry about such as: storage of building materials; disposal of rubbish; liaison with building control, the water board and various other utilities.  It is also important that payments to contractors be authorised to cover them for work already carried out.  All of these things are part of the job of a good project manager and can lead to an effective project where  costs are kept within agreed limits. 

 The cost of appointing a project manager is usually about 8% of the building costs.   The savings should be a considerable amount more. 

  A project manager has an important role to play even on small building projects such as a rear extension.  After all, don’t most people know the disaster story of someone who was just having a small extension built when the builder went bankrupt and left all his rubbish in the front garden and he had been paid in advance for the next month ? Or suddenly the cost of the work doubles?   

If you are thinking of building an extension to your house, then it is wise to think seriously about using the services of a building surveyor as project manager.