Top 5 construction project management best practices

To say that construction project managers have a tough job is an understatement. You’re balancing job site visits, office tasks, keeping track of the warehouse, managing subs, sending purchase orders, paying invoices, not to mention the other countless day-to-day tasks for each project. And we don’t have to tell you that the key to success for any job is being able to keep projects on track, avoid delays and meet set deadlines.

Why is project management important in construction?

Successful construction project management helps to prevent delays, cost overruns and poor quality outcomes. It also helps in optimizing the allocation of resources, management of risks and implementation of effective communication among stakeholders to ensure effective project delivery.

Managing construction projects will help keep jobs on track, within budget and aligned with the desired quality management standards. It maximizes workflow, minimizes risks and ensures a successful outcome.

The top 5 project management practices in construction

So, how do you get it all done while ensuring your projects stay on track and finish on time?

Check out these five best practices for construction project management to see if you are implementing all the tools and have the systems in place to keep your business running smoothly.

1) Set expectations for your projects

Before starting any type of construction project, it’s important to lay out expectations, but it’s especially important for construction projects. Why? Well, you want to make sure your expectations and goals are aligned with those of the project stakeholders. Jumping into a complicated project like building a house before setting expectations is like taking a road trip without directions. You may reach your end goal, but not without wasting time and money – two things you most certainly want to avoid.

Setting expectations includes important steps like creating a detailed timeline, determining project milestones and deliverables, addressing the budget and setting a finish date. Making these critical decisions and putting them in writing before the start of a project will prevent setbacks and enable the project’s success.

2) Prioritize open internal communication

Communication is an essential component to the success of any business. Especially now, with many people working remotely, being able to communicate with your project team, subcontractors and clients is everything. Communication features are must-haves when it comes to managing your construction projects. From the construction site to the office, open internal communication ensures you, your team members, your subs and even your clients are always informed of progress or any setbacks that may occur. It also allows for quick dispute resolution to meet the timeframes you set out in the beginning.

In order to keep projects on track, it’s important to communicate and keep everyone on the same page. Using communication tools such as a daily schedule, punch lists, daily progress reports, real-time comments and messages help to keep everyone updated while ensuring you have everything documented in the event of any unforeseen conflicts.

3) Keep your clients involved and happy

Homeowners are excited about their renovation projects, and they want to be involved in the process. So, let them be involved! Staying connected with your clients is important. It not only makes them happy, it’s a great way for you to keep your projects moving. You will oftentimes need your clients input or permission for decision making regarding their product selections, change orders and other finishes. Keeping them involved throughout the project ensures they are engaged and ready when you need them to sign off on final decisions.

Buildertrend makes this easy with one of our most popular features – the Customer Portal. Read our case study to see how the Customer Portal helped our customer Chris Ledet transform his company’s client relations.

Making your clients feel included during their new home build or renovation project is not only exciting for them, it maintains their trust and fosters a great client relationship. So get ready, they’ll surely be sending all their friends your way!

4) Enhance reporting and financial management

Having up-to-date financials and real-time reporting options will really set you apart from other construction companies. Being able to seamlessly track money coming in and money going out is a critical aspect of risk management in construction projects. With unexpected expenses and those pesky change orders, financial tools such as budget, payroll, invoicing, billing, purchase orders, cash flow and online payment options will make your day-to-day money management easy and organized to ensure you stay on budget.

And be sure to use a reporting software to create daily financial reports such as work in progress reports. WIP reports are essential for knowing where you stand across all jobs on a daily basis. These reports will help you track changes, make updates in real time and stay on top of your bottom line. Here at Buildertrend, we think WIP reports are so important, we built our own! Read more about how our customers are using (and loving) the WIP reporting tool within our platform.

5) Use construction management software like Buildertrend

These days, it’s nearly impossible to manage construction projects without using some kind of construction project management technology. Softwares like Buildertrend with the most advanced features for building contract documents, contract management, scheduling, communication, client relationship management, financial management and reporting make managing dozens of construction projects, new builds and remodeling projects efficient and promote a successful business.

If you’re already a Buildertrend customer (hooray!), reach out to your account executive to schedule a training and get to know our awesome construction project management tools.

Better your best practices with Buildertrend

Keep your projects organized and on track by using Buildertrend as a central hub for all your important job information and quickly implement these five best practices with our easy-to-use software. Give us a call to discuss all the top-notch features, integrations and services Buildertrend has to offer.

Ready to set your business up for success? Schedule a demo today!

Project management practices in construction FAQs

Get answers to the most common questions about construction project management.