5 Tips for Managing Home Construction Projects to Avoid Change Orders

During home construction, the change management process is just as important as the construction process. Change management allows room for error and growth without wasting too much money or time. It will also prevent change orders from happening. For instance, if you are building a home on a hillside in Los Angeles and you realize that you need large post beams to support a major infrastructure, you will want to make an LA crane rental company a part of your change management plans – just in case. The truth is, anything can go wrong during the home construction process, so change management is crucial for the contractor and homeowner alike. Here are five tips for managing home construction projects to avoid change order.

1. Don’t leave out anything on the blueprint. By leaving out the simplest line or the simplest building request, you may have big change order in store later or when builders have implemented your plans, but left out an essential element to the architectural plan. It is hard to place blame on anyone in this situation, especially if it was a simple omission. However, if you want to avoid a change order, you want to make sure that blueprints are reviewed and double-checked extensively.
2. Avoid last minute client demand changes. One of the biggest reasons for change order is client demands, especially last minute. So, if you are a contractor, you want to make sure that you let the client know that there is a small window of time before changes can be made. In fact, you may want to get it in writing that the client or contractor can’t make last minute changes. Moreover, you want to make sure that all plans are approved by the client and contractor.
3. Have a team leader or master contractor. When it comes to a home build, there may be several different parties working on different elements of the home construction. For instance, there may be one team working on the exterior of the home and another team working on individual rooms in the home. If these separate elements are left unchecked, change order may occur. So, make sure to assign a team leader to oversee the entire project and all teams involved.
4. Anticipate pitfalls by making a list of all the things that could go wrong. Taking into account all the things that can go wrong can prepare you for possible changes. The sooner you find an answer to a problem, the more money and time you can save, which would otherwise be spent trying to come up with a solution. However, if you have a solution ready and prepared, you can implement the backup strategy right away, which wastes almost no time or money.
5. Know exactly what you are getting in terms of materials. It may be more convenient to order material online or through a catalogue, but you can’t often get a feel for these materials or know exactly what they look like in person. If you want to avoid repurchasing materials, you need to know what all the materials look like and feel like in person. In home construction, you never want to be surprised.