Home Building - What Every Well Prepared Owner Builder Must Know About Management Systems

Home building is a process. An Owner Builder, to be successful, must implement a process management system that lays out the steps required. And this is true whether it's a major home building project or a simple remodel.

Home building and remodeling projects follow logical sequences that, while self evident in some cases, can be confusing to people who do not do it for a living. Operating without such a system is a recipe for disaster.

What is a Process Management System?

Simply put, a process management system guides the project manager through the entire building or remodeling project. Take a look at some of the important phases of home building and the items that a good system will include:

Analyzing the land or parcel that the home is to be constructed upon
Accessing and understanding the building codes for the area
Working with a home designer to create the house plans
Deciding on building materials for the home
Devising a construction strategy for building the home
Identifying the contractors to be used
Coordinating the deliveries of building materials
Coordinating and managing the efforts of subcontractors
Scheduling the inspections by the local authorities
Quality Control, trouble shooting and implementing remedies
Setting up regular communications channels
Loan processing and handling payments to suppliers and contractors
Completing the all important punch lists
From this outline, you can see that a thorough framework is needed to keep the project moving forward to completion. Each of the above segments will have numerous sub steps and a good process management system will guide you through them.

Who Can Run the System?

Not all systems are in print. Some builders, although these are a dying breed, fortunately, operated by the seat of their pants. They rely on their experience to get them through each project. Even in this way, they are still utilizing a management system. Process management resources can be found with the following:

General Contractors: A good General Contractor will have a written or online process management system that often includes a communication tool to keep in touch with his clients.

Architects: Architects have been known to provide industry contacts and management help for their clients. Sometimes this works well. Often they lack a proven system that empowers their clients and the experience can sometimes be disappointing at best.

HomeBuilding Coaches: The biggest advantage of the home building coach is that he or she empowers owner builders to manage their own projects at a reduced cost. They do this with personal involvement and good process management tools. These tools can come in the form of manuals or online software or a combination of these.

What Works Best for the Owner Builder

I have long been an advocate of the home building coach. Giving more power to the homeowner to get more of what they want, save money, and have a better overall experience just makes sense today. So, my advice is to hire a coach who has an excellent process management system for the owner builder.

Ask questions of your home building professional. Demand the implementation of a good process management system and stay closely involved with your project.