How are you managing your Project?

lanod2407

I'm new to this site and am looking for inputs on how best to manage a 'self-build', so here goes .................

What's your approach to managing your project?
What tools are you using to cost, schedule and manage the construction project? Excel, MS Project, anything else?

Who is the main Project Manager - you or the Engineer or Architect?
Do you wish you'd managed it differently?

What would you want to have ideally to make the management of the project easier?

Villain

I have just started a self build and mainly I am in charge and controlling who does what and when and getting things ready for them however my skills don't go far enough to make important decisions so I am in the very lucky position to have some great friends who do have the knowledge to help me.

One thing to remember is that no matter who is managing the project, you are in charge don't get bullied by people who are working for you by letting them decide what way your house should be built, just because its easier for them don't let them force you into going with what they want.

250882

exactly as villian said dont get bullied into making compromises, you will be living in the house for a lot longer than they will be. If you have an architect or engineer use them as a reference library if nothing else. some builders will try to tell you things have to be done a certain way, for example insulation. pumped cavity fill insulation is easier to use than boards but may not give you the same u-value.

lanod2407

Thanks guys - but that's just the approach and attitude ............. what about the tools that are used to manage the project from end to end?

Are Excel and MS Project all that's out there?

ressem

There's plenty of tools out there, though most are oriented towards software design.

Ganttproject is free windows software which will keep track of tasks and resources (people/firms) and draw out simple charts.
The sample they included is of a housebuilding.

Ms Project would be overkill IMO. You can get overly bogged down in unuseful detail.

yop

I managed it all myself, made 99% of decisions, only 1 I did not was steel beams I needed.

Luckily I had "get out and do some work" upbringing from my Dad which has turned out to be great

Used EXCEL for everything, found it great to record all figures. Also kept a blog too so that I can someday, when I am 64, go back and read it

lanod2407

Thanks guys - sounds like the tools available are fairly generic and off-the-shelf.
Nothing specifically designed for the self-builder that would assist in working through the process from start to finish.

Have had the same experience - Excel for the costing stuff, and MS Project for the scheduling and sequencing, but found nothing that helps pull the stuff together and guide one through the building process. EasyPrice Pro is the closest I found, but that's (a) for builders in the trade, and (2) fairly expensive.

sinnerboy

MS project has usefull functions that the excell does not - like "link tasks" . Eg if you alter one task , say walls completion , it will automatically alter internal plastering .

Best tool of all is the old grey matter of course .....