If you’re curious about what a construction project manager does, this article is for you. Learn about the responsibilities of project management in residential construction. Find out what job phases this profession oversees.
Detailed planning and effective oversight are crucial to ensuring every project is finished on time. Satisfied clients are the bread and butter of every contracting company.
You’ll get in-depth information about the key phases of residential construction projects. This includes four components of the planning phase, which are critical to project success.
Plus, you’ll read four tips on how to get started with construction project management using home construction software. You can benefit from it even if you have a small general contracting business.
What Does a Residential Construction Project Manager Do?
A residential construction project manager oversees building projects. Examples include renovations and new home construction. This person guides jobs from the planning stage to the final handover. We’ll discuss those steps in more detail below.
The project manager is responsible for ensuring the project is finished on time and is of the quality expected by the client and end users. The client could be a real estate developer. Or it could be private homeowners who are upgrading their house with an addition.
The role is a bit like a wedding event planner. The construction project manager tends to all the small aspects of the job before and during construction. And everything must stay on schedule. It takes someone who is detail-oriented, persistent, and a good communicator.
Key Responsibilities for Effective Residential Construction Project Management
Construction project management is an ideal job for someone who enjoys variety and problem-solving. The key tasks handled by a construction project manager include:
- Developing a complete project plan, budget, and timetable
- Obtaining the required materials and services
- Hiring and supervising job site workers and subcontractors
- Monitoring safety codes, regulations, and other standards
- Coordinating communication between the involved parties
- Documenting progress, such as construction logs
- Participating in inspections and completion of the final punch list
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To help keep track of information, budgets, and more, project managers may use home construction software. This provides many benefits, including:
- Project planning checklists, so the project manager doesn’t forget any aspect of the job.
- Automatic updating of totals when one element changes, like if the cost of materials increases.
- At-a-glance view of whether they’re on target to meet deadlines and finish according to the contract.
- Templates make working on similar projects much easier (less reinventing the wheel).
Larger residential construction firms usually have employees dedicated to project management. With smaller general contracting businesses, the owner or a partner may function as the project manager.
If you’re thinking about scaling your small business, or if you take on a new, extra-large project, you could consider hiring a project manager. Over time, having a dedicated project manager can save the company money and headaches.
And staying on track with projects results in increased client satisfaction and better reviews. This is particularly important with residential construction. That’s because there is often a personal and emotional component involved in the vision for the finished product.
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Key Planning Aspects in Residential Construction and Renovation Projects
Residential construction project management starts with the planning phase. This occurs months or even years before the actual building starts. Let’s take a look at four key planning elements that are essential in project management for both new construction and renovations.
Project Location and Site Preparation
First, for any new construction, the development team must choose a location for the project. They want to make sure everything from highway access to nature views is ideal. You could be coordinating with civil or urban engineers on sewers and road building.
Often, a feasibility study will be conducted. This looks at issues like utility availability, ground composition, and hydrology. For instance, you need to know if digging or blasting will be required to get past bedrock for a building that requires a basement. Or, you want to be sure the site won’t flood during heavy storms or high tides.
Sometimes the site needs to be prepared for the upcoming construction. That could involve grading and leveling to create a flat surface. Or you might need to remove trees and vegetation where buildings will go.
Architectural Design Process and Subcontractor Assignments
Once the site has been selected, the architect for the project can begin the design process. It could be planning a new apartment complex or adding a wing onto an existing single-family home.
The design phase itself usually goes through several planning iterations. The project starts with conceptual drawings and sketches. Then, it moves to more concrete elevations and blueprints. A scale model might be built, too, for a 3D feel of the finished project.
During this planning phase, the selection of subcontractors is often performed. Once the design process has fleshed out, you’ll know what you need in the way of electricians, plumbers, landscape architects, etc.
Sometimes, some of these subcontractors are decided during the architectural bid selection process. This is especially common if it’s a larger or prestigious job. Each architect who bids on the project may submit their proposal with a list of subcontractors they like to work with. These are professionals who they know will be reliable and meet the job standards.
If subcontractors haven’t yet been chosen, this is when the construction project manager participates in this task. They collaborate with the developer and/or architect in selecting the best team for the job.
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Building Permits and Regulatory Tasks
It’s the construction project manager’s responsibility to ensure that the project is executed legally. That means according to state or local building codes. A key part of this is to secure the necessary building permits.
Without the proper permits, the project could be subject to stiff fines or getting shut down. Your business could be vulnerable to costly lawsuits if the building is deemed unsafe.
If you’re the project manager, you need to know things like whether you can exceed the current building footprint on renovation projects. If you’re renovating a historic property, you might need to meet with local committees to show them plans and get permission to move ahead.
Equipment Rental
We mentioned digging and blasting earlier. The construction project manager is tasked with making sure the job has all the right equipment lined up in advance.
Equipment might include:
- Backhoes and excavators
- Bulldozers
- Cranes
- Graders and pavers
- Dump trucks
- Concrete mixers
- Scaffolding and ladders
5 Phases of Residential Construction Project Management
You can think of project management as divided into five phases or prime roles. As you’ll read below, some of these phases overlap with each other:
- Pre-construction: This includes all the planning elements discussed above. The next phase goes much more smoothly when this is done thoroughly via effective management.
- Construction: This is the execution phase of the project, when active building is taking place. It includes pouring the foundation, building the frame, roofing, and building out the interior.
- Documenting and reporting: As mentioned, there is a need to document all aspects of the project from start to finish. Most construction projects keep a daily chronological log of all documents related to the project.
- Monitoring: The construction project manager’s job is to watch progress throughout the entire process. Is everything on schedule and within the budget? This task is closely related to documenting and reporting. It also requires solid communication skills in case there’s a problem.
- Project completion: Once construction is done (or nearly done), you’re in the final phase of project management. Usually, this involves creating a punch list for final details to complete. Then, inspections are performed, and the project is handed off to the client or homeowners.
4 Pro Tips to Get Started With Home Construction Project Management
Are you the owner of a small general contracting company? Or are you interested in construction project management as a career? Here are four expert tips to help you get started today:
- When creating a budget during the planning phase, always build in a contingency amount. This will serve as a buffer in case the price of materials rises or an unpredictable delay requires extra labor. With a contingency fund, you’ll likely come in under budget (assuming no problems), which makes clients happy.
- Part of the planning and construction phases includes risk management as well. Be prepared to deal with issues like insurance, bonds, and safety assessments. The construction industry has a high rate of accidents and injuries, with residential projects topping the field. There were 10,000 injuries reported in this niche in 2023.
- To assist with construction planning, building, and documentation, using construction estimating software is vital. Your business can also use software specifically designed for residential construction estimating, invoicing, and receiving payments. Plus, you can integrate it with other accounting software. This helps with tax preparation or making profit and loss statements for loans.
- Completion and handover are the perfect time to ask if the client is satisfied with the project. If they are not, ask what you could do to fix the situation. If the answer is yes, great! You can also inquire about a positive online review (give them a link), a testimonial for your website, or the opportunity for future work.
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