Project Manager on a build?

voodoo

Hi All,

Ok so it looks like we may go down the "Self Build" route for our upcoming build as the pricing just seems so hard to ignore in terms of the savings to be made going direct labour. However, we are very wary that we are not builders and worry about our ability to fully/properly manage the build.

Has anyone used a project manager to manage the steps of a build if you have selected the tradesment/materials to be used. How does this typically work and roughly what would we expect to pay for this service?

We have someone in mind for this - the guy we will most likely select for the groundswork/blocklaying. We have also had the suggestion thrown at us by a contractor that we had quoting us that if we went direct labour, he could work with us to project manage the build (he was a carpenter himself by trade).

Anyway, any thoughts greatly appreciated.

ThePiedPiper

well voodoo,
ya, we went this route. our project manager is a family member who's been in the trade for nearly 40 years. that trust we have in him is absolutely at the heart of why it's been such a good route for us. He's been on site every day since we started and from the first day, the quality of workmen that he's picked has been first class. There's been things done on site that have been above and beyond what any contractor quoted for, such as an acre of garden finished, retaining walls, piers, CCTV cameras, garage has stairs, garage plastered upstairs, etc, etc.
The cost of the build is going to be about 100,000 cheaper than the only contractor that I actually trusted to do the right job.
For us, it has worked out brilliantly, but it's more to do with the qualities of the project manager himself. My brother also has a family member as project manager and they've gone wildly over budget on their build and it's taken them nearly 2 years to build whereas we'll be done in 8 months total.
If you pick the right guy, it could work out very well for you..
best of luck with it.

mendel

Voodoo
I'm very interested in your question as we are considering the same issue. We are very definitely not builders and it is a renovation project. It was suggested to us that we should look at an incentivised method of payment for the project manager so much before and so much if it is brought in on or under budget.
But i don't have any real answers for you as we are only starting out. Also strongly considering the direct route, I'm interested in how much you think you are going to save in todays recessionary climate?

voodoo

Mendel,

We have been building a spreadsheet of the costs we have been getting from tradesmen and also contractors. I actually have another post on this giving a breakdown of the figures etc. Take a look. I am shocked but meeting with our engineer tomorrow evening to ensure that we haven't missed anything off it. I am going to ask him about the project management route to see how effective it can be!

mendel

Voodoo,
we are considering an engineer that looked at the property initially to be the project manager. though thinking outloud now, maybe the 2 roles of project manager and engineer to ensure the works are completed correctly may not be able to go together?

Let me know what you decide

I had a look at your costings, very interesting and a guide of what we might be looking at.

we still have to get a scope of works done up and the plans (renovation of a property) and i hope that those 2 things will set out what i need to do. am at sea at the moment

voodoo

Mendel,

It really gets crazy when you start looking at the individual costs against a contractor!

We got great news today - Planning Permission granted! Now the pressure begins and the process of selecting tradesmen starts!

Interesting comment on the engineer! Have him over tomorrow evening so will mention it to him if he would be interested and whether he thinks it's a good idea...

Pudz21

Hi guy's,

Our planning went into the council last week for an 1850sqf house and fingers crossed we will have planning early next year.
We are in two, three, minds on what to do in relation to project managers, contractors and doing it ourselves direct. Our position is the same as many on this board, we do not have the time, expertise and know how to manage a construction project.

All prices that I have got off people to do direct labour have been along the same lines, so it is reasonabl to say that contractors and PM's can get the same prices or even better. But the quotes I have got have been very high even one as high as €125 per sqf. It seems there is still alot of greedy contractors out there.

But can someone please advise me on the pro's and con's of both Project Managers and Contractors? Im really stuck between a rock and a hard place between the two.

mendel

we are still going around in circles on this, our architect has priced us for design drawings to planning and also construction drawings which is a separate charge and i understand monitoring throughout the build that the work matches the drawings.
I understand we need an engineer aswell. I had never heard of construction drawings and wonder is this necessary, is it all overkill?
Would we be better off just getting design plans and then the engineer to look at scope or works and sign of the build?

Or am i talking bolony?

It must be now clear that I have no building experience what so ever.

mr_edge_to_you

I imagine your engineer and PM should be different people. Our engineer inspects the contractor's work and then sign's off when he's satisfied. You couldn't have to person overseeing the build signing off on the work. By seperating these roles it provides the customer with greater security that job is being done right. Secondly, most contractors will work off planning drawings provided off course there is nothing unusual in the plans. For example, our contractor decided when he was building the sunroom that block corners would be much stronger than steel posts as per original plans. By working off the planning drawings it allows you scope for change internally as the build progresses. No point spending a few hundred quid on construction drawings and then making your ensuite bigger. From my experience a PM will look for them whereas a contractor is happy to work with planning drawings.