Role of Project Managers in Home Construction

Project managers are the professionals who take charge of all your house construction processes, from the planning stage to the handover of keys. The role of project managers in home construction is vast and vital.  

A project manager coordinates the efforts of multiple parties, including the client and the building team. He oversees subcontractors and other construction workers to guarantee the timely and cost-effective completion of the project. He coordinates activities, assigns tasks, and monitors finances.

Role of A Project Manager in Home Construction

A project manager has extensive building knowledge, is patient and willing to explain complex concepts, is well-organised, and is capable of juggling multiple tasks at once. All these contribute to the project environment in which they are working. They are responsible for various activities in the home construction projects.

01. Construction Project Planning and Scheduling

The project manager reviews the schedule and scope of a proposed project to establish the parameters within which the work will be carried out. He creates a calendar for construction task management, and deliverables to serve as a guide for the construction crew to follow to complete the project efficiently and on budget. Furthermore, he oversees construction project tracking, construction cost tracking, and construction resource usage.  

02. Reviewing Plans

A project manager must study the architect’s drawings carefully before getting started with project site management. Certain architects’ building plans are so comprehensive that they leave little room for interpretation. The project manager will act independently and make prudent choices when the drawings are vague in detail, or consult the architect for guidance.

Also Read: 12 Major Things To be Considered While Selecting a Site

03. Project Site Management

The construction project manager is accountable for both the planning and execution of the work, including monitoring and supervising the work on-site and off-site. Doing so entails guiding and coordinating the actions of construction personnel, construction resource management, and construction time management.

04. Communicate and Coordinate

When construction starts, there are a lot of things that might go wrong, such as shortages of materials or workers, misunderstandings, forgotten details, and so on. The presence of an efficient project manager eliminates these obstacles and facilitates smooth job site management. He is responsible for communicating and coordinating with people working on site and those concerned regularly.

05. Arranging Construction Equipment and Management of Resources

Project management in the construction industry often deals with the timely arrangement and management of construction equipment and resources. From nails to bulldozers, the project manager is responsible for securing all the tools and materials required, as well as securing storage space and maintaining an inventory management system. The project manager needs to be diligent here so that the project does not overrun its budget and no time is wasted waiting for replacement parts or equipment once construction has begun.

06. Sets Target

After the owner signs the contract, the project manager often establishes concrete project goals. Timely construction project tracking ensures meeting these goals within the stipulated time. The project manager takes on this responsibility simultaneously with construction cost tracking.

07. Construction Quality Control

The construction project manager is responsible for a large portion of quality assurance along with construction cost management. He needs to strike a perfect balance between quality and cost. He carries out quality assurance inspections, such as double-checking the roof or siding installation or ensuring the bolts connecting the house’s frame to the foundation are properly tightened.

08. Arbitration

Project managers are regularly called upon to act as neutral judges in various conflicts. Whether between co-workers, subcontractors, or the client, an unresolved conflict might put the entire project in jeopardy. Client disputes, which may arise over timeline targets, performance assurances, or variations from the original contract provisions, must be addressed delicately to ensure a smooth working relationship for the project’s duration. An unresolved dispute can increase legal costs and cause a project to stall as workers shift their attention away from their primary responsibilities to focus on finding a solution to the conflict.

Importance of Project Managers

• A residential project manager bears the ultimate responsibility for a project’s success because of his significant impact on building sites.
• He comes to terms with how long it will take, how much money it will cost, and what resources will be necessary to complete the job.
• He leads the team and carefully maps out the steps needed to complete the project.
• He carries out all the safety inspections and surveys, compiling reports detailing results, making recommendations for corrective or preventative action when necessary, and checking in to ensure those recommendations are followed.
• He performs post-accident investigations and writes reports outlining the potential causes and hazards of accidents.
• He ensures that the latest health and safety regulations are met.
• Once construction begins, the residential project manager’s job is to find ways to save money and ensure the construction team doesn’t go over budget.

Conclusion

We just discussed the importance of the role of project managers in house construction and concluded that it is a blessing to appoint a project manager for your house construction project. They are professionals and deliver excellent construction project management services. Once appointed, they will ensure everything is done timely, in the right order, and not exceeding your budget. You can now sit back and relax because there is someone to take care of everything, keeping you in the loop.

Must Read Roles and Responsibilities of a Structural Engineer

FAQs about Construction Project Managers

01. What is the daily routine of a construction project manager?

The daily routine of a construction project manager is not defined. But in general, he overlooks the whole construction project. He monitors the progress of the project, communicates with the client and the labourers, make available all the resources, and makes sure that the construction project progress smoothly and timely.

02. Is a project manager higher than a construction manager?

Yes, a project manager looks after the entire project, whereas, construction manager is only concerned about the construction aspect of the project.

03. What is the difference between a construction engineer and a project manager?

The role of a construction engineer is to take care of the construction aspect of the project. It involves project design, planning, resources management, and construction work. However, a project manager, oversees the entire project from inception to completion. It involves planning, budgeting, scheduling, resource allocation, and communication with stakeholders.

04. Can a project manager be a contractor?

Yes, a project manager can be a contractor, but the converse is not true. The role of a project manager is wider than the role of a contractor, who is majorly concerned about the construction aspect. Hence, a project manager can be a contractor but a contractor can not always be a project manager.  

Author Bio

Nafisa Nazneen Choudhury – Nafisa Nazneen Choudhury is a Civil Engineer (completed B.E. from Assam Engineering College) and is currently pursuing M.Tech in Structural Engineering at National Institute of Technology, Silchar. She is a Technical Content Writer, having over 3 years of experience and has wrote many articles related to Civil Engineering. She is also a Book Author (Authored – “Dream Tales of NNC: Revenge By Murder”) and her book can be found on Amazon. She is also a Guest Author at Gharpedia. Moreover, she is a certified member at Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE) and National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE). She writes her blogs at her website – nnc2017.wordpress.com. She can be reached on LinkedIn.