Most contractors face sharp questions and difficult challenges in the construction sector every day. But most of them can be solved or even prevented timely. For this purpose, take a closer look at the top list of nightmares with helpful solutions to do away with headaches and panic attacks.
But note that there are one-for-all hacks and tips to use for your progress. For example, automation and digitization are important for today’s business. The construction sector is not an exception. That is a way to take a closer look at tools for automated and digital-friendly analytics, estimating, and costing. BIM systems, construction bidding software, drones for on-site measurements, and other AR/VR programs for modeling will make a difference in the context of improved performance of your departments.
The Most Awful Nightmares of Present-Day Contractors
If we speak about the most annoying and problematic issues of today’s contractors and subcontractors, among them are blueprint confusion, poor estimating, incorrect custom orders, and many more. Speaking about the pre-construction phase, everything matters for correct estimates. For example, construction estimating software can prevent human-factor errors and imperfections in intermediary reports.
If we speak about more narrow-direction solutions, it is better to focus on each problem separately. Let’s take a closer look at each challenge that can turn into the real nightmare of this or that contractor at once.
1 – Blueprint Confusion Might Take Place
Some contractors and subcontractors might work with the old set of blueprints. All the historical data or incorrect insights that are considered the freshest data for decision-making is the most serious mistake of today’s market players. Blueprint confusions and related to this case issues lead to delays and other unpleasant surprises on your way through the pipeline and the construction process in general.
It is recommended to plan everything and control each step. Keep track of each procedure before the construction agreement is signed and after the building process is initiated by the parties. Note that the ground rules, legislation, and other basic requirements matter and help you come up with the perfect blueprint.
2 – Delays and Missed Deadlines Ruin Your Progress
Many general contractors prefer to take part in the tender process and be absent while the project is in progress. The lack of control over all the on-site arrangements is the number one reason for delays. That is why you need several hacks and tips to make your remote management efficient:
- Be ready to arrange regular meetings with your team online.
- Communicate with the heads of departments at least several times a week.
- Integrate into your corporate system all necessary tools for reporting, commenting, and other remote communication forms.
- Be sure that each teammate knows their own responsibilities and tasks.
- Not only managers who work in the office. Job site management is critically important as well.
Additionally, you need to explain to your workers all the risks delays bring. Inform them about decreased bonuses or even zero profitability of the project in case of missed deadlines. Encourage your estimators, managers, and other specialists to tell you about any issues to prevent serious consequences.
To sum up, switch to the paperless processes to control everything remotely. Additionally, have lead managers who can bring you the latest insights and possible solutions if the risk of delay occurs. Pick sides with the best-matching software and algorithms of communication and cooperation in general.
3 – Unexpected Costs Harm Your Budgets and Profit Margins
Early budget planning is a critically important routine. But not all costs can be predicted from the very beginning of the pre-construction stage with bidding and tendering peculiarities. Sudden spending can appear even if you are a very experienced contractor. For example, some unforeseen conditions can take place together with termite damages or weather extremes.
In this case, each building company that is responsible for a construction project of any size should have extra funds to cover unexpected costs. If you do not have any money for risky situations, these items concern the financial health of your firm. For example, the list of force majeure situations can be increased up to dry rots, bad soils, and other conditions.
Everything can be discussed with the client, subcontractors, and other stakeholders. You need to have an emergency or at least alternative variants to restore funds or stop the project at any stage before additional investments are going to be found.
