Should I self manage my build

This is a question which pops up time and time again from customers so, we thought it would be helpful to give you our view on this.

Self-managing your own project can be an attractive option however, it is crucial that you are fully aware of exactly what is required should you choose to take on the role yourself.

ROLE OF A PROJECT MANAGER

The role of a project manager is what it says in the title; to manage the project.
A project manager is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day running of the project and ensuring that the work is delivered on time and on budget.
Self-managing your build can be beneficial if you are have a good understanding of building, motivated, organised and have the time to dedicate to keeping your project on track.
Although, being your owner-builder brings many benefits, unfortunately  it also carries risks, which as a project manager your will be responsible for handling should any arise during the running of your project.

How fast and effective issues are resolved will have a huge impact on the overall success rate of your project.

Regardless of what your project is all construction sites require a project manager.

For most self-build or home renovation projects, its unusual for a client to appoint a separate ‘project manager’, as the management responsibilities are commonly taken on by the main contractor.

For the larger scale projects clients tend to consider hiring a professional project manager or assigning their architect as project manager. Although it’s not unusual for the builder to take on the management role on behalf of the client. An experienced and well-regarded building contractor will have a network of highly skilled professionals who they can rely on to do the work

Benefits of project managing yourself

• Potential to save money: Taking on the work yourself means that you can potentially save around 10–15% of the overall cost, which of course is quite a substantial amount. This tends to be the main factor why people choose to take on the role themselves, and means the money saved can be put towards other elements of the work such as materials and labour.

• Choose your own team; While it can be a lengthy process, finding and choosing every tradesperson yourself, means you’re hiring people that you want and trust. This is key as it’s likely that you will be spending a lot of time working with these people, so it’s important that you a) trust them to do a good job and b) have a good working relationship with them.

We do have a recent  blog on our website which covers “ how to choose a builder” which you may  also find useful, it can be found here; https://tjd-build.co.uk/blog

• Sense of achievement: we have been involved in 100s of projects over the years and the satisfaction when a project is completed never goes away. Being your own project manager can be hugely rewarding. Being able to step back from your completed project to say, ‘I did that.’ Overseeing everything from start to finish means that you can take great satisfaction in what you’ve achieved.

Negatives of project managing yourself

• Potential to cost more; As mentioned above self-managing can be cost efficient, however, from our experience client generally saves little. This is often due to poor management and mistakes which happen during the project due to inexperience in the field.
• Stressful/Time consuming: It will take longer to complete the project than it would if you hired a professional. It may also consume more of your time than anticipated, this may make you may get discouraged and feel like you took on more than you can handle.
• Mistakes are more likely to happen: If you’re not a professional project manager and you’ve never managed a project before, it’s highly likely that during the project something will not go as planned. Whether it’s not ordering enough material or accidentally forgetting to hire a specific tradesman, big or small mistakes can lead to costly and time-consuming disruption to you and your project.

Benefits of hiring a builder/project manager

Professionals can make a huge difference to the running of your project, could save you a lot of stress, and will ensure you stay on (or even under) budget.

• Keeps your project on time and in budget: A project manager’s number one goal is to ensure that your project delivers on time and on budget, without compromising the quality of the work.

• Minimise mistakes: One of the biggest benefits of hiring a project manager is their problem-solving skills.
  By planning, your project manager will be able to avoid any issues that could cause problems. If, however, something does arise, the will have first-hand knowledge of a variety of problems and know exactly how to resolve them quicky and efficiently to avoid delays to your project timescales.

• Less pressure in you; Leaving the finer details to the professionals means you can focus on the more enjoyable elements such of the design and décor for your finish project. An experienced project management/building team will respect your needs and find ways to make things work for you

• Understanding of quality control: A good project manager/builder  will ensure the work has been completed to the highest possible standards and include all those finishing details you may not even be aware of.

• They have a team of experts: Another benefit of hiring professionals is that they have a team of experts at their disposal. This means that if you are having trouble find/choosing the right materials, design, etc., you can rely on their expertise to advise or point you in the right direction.

In summary, managing your own project can potentially save you money. However, these savings come with a notable cost in terms of stress, time management, and possibly even the quality of the work. Don’t undertake this role unless you are confident in your abilities and have carefully considered the pros and cons.