How to Work With a Construction Crew to Avoid Misunderstandings

Written by  //  July 29, 2015  //  Building Contractors  //  Comments Off on How to Work With a Construction Crew to Avoid Misunderstandings

In construction, communication is key. Here are 5 important tips for when, what, and how to communicate with a construction crew in order to ensure the job goes well.

1.) Make Sure Paperwork is in Order

The first, and most important concern when working with a construction crew is establishing that everyone is properly licensed, bonded, and insured. Many jobs get delayed or cancelled due to licensing problems. Every municipality has its own regulations. Just because a crew is licensed in one county, for example, doesn’t mean they’re licensed in the whole State. Before spending time planning and scheduling the work, and definitely before any money changes hands, request copies of all relevant documents related to licensure, bonding, and insurance. After receiving the documents, conduct due diligence by calling the regulating bodies noted on the documents in order to ensure everything is order before moving forward with any work.

2.) Clearly Establish the Plan

There’s an old adage that says, "Measure twice, cut once." For every hour of work that will eventually go into a construction job, 2 hours should have gone into the planning. Meet with all of the decision makers on the crew and communicate a clear idea of exactly what the job is. Plan every phase of the job in intricate detail, and make sure that every team member has a comprehensive idea of the exact scope of the job.

3.) Establish a Time Frame

Once the construction plan is established, and is clear to every member of the team, a reasonable, and realistic time frame should be able to be agreed upon. When establishing a time frame, a starting date should be agreed upon and put into writing. Next, specific deadlines should be spelled out for every phase of the project. Inspections will need to be scheduled along the way in order to ensure the quality of the work, so they need to be factored into the time frame as well. Finally, a finish date should be established and put into writing. But it is not enough simply to schedule dates. Incentives need to be agreed upon ahead of time and put into writing so that all parties understand the importance of hitting deadlines. Most jobs come with monetary incentives for the crew if they can finish the job correctly and ahead of schedule. It’s also standard to put into writing what the consequences will be if there are any delays caused by inadequate or slow work. All of these issues should be agreed upon and put into writing ahead of time in order to help everything move smoothly along the way.

4.) Establish Who the Players Are

Before any work starts, get to know the entire team. Most jobs involve subcontractors. It is important that before money changes hands, all of the subcontractors are brought into the planning process so that there are no surprises along the way. Every subcontractor should be vetted to make sure their licenses are in order, and they are fully bonded and insured. Establish with certainty who is in charge of every phase of the job, and communicate clearly who is responsible in the event challenges arise. Remember, whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. Establish where the buck stops before bucks change hands.

5.) You Get What You Pay For

Once the due diligence has been completed, the plans are agreed upon, the time frame is established, and it is clear who is running every aspect of the project, it’s time for money to change hands. It’s standard for construction crews to require upfront payments in order to purchase materials and secure the crew. Sometimes the upfront payments can be as much as 25% to 50% of the overall budget, depending on the job. A specific payment plan should be agreed upon and tied in with the written time frame for the job so that everyone is in agreement at the start exactly when, how, and how much money will change hands at every phase of the project.

Top quality work done well, on time, by professionals requires an investment of time, money, planning, and trust. Follow these tips, and you’ll be on the way to a successful job.

Jessica Kane is a professional blogger who writes for Federal Steel Supply, Inc., a leading supplier of carbon, alloy and stainless steel in pipe, tube, fittings and flanges.

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