With about 20,000 of us deciding to 'build it' ourselves each year, the plucky British DIY spirit is fully on view across the country and should be applauded wherever it is found. Figures from Buildstore Ltd show that around 80% will attempt the project management side of the self build project themselves and around 20% of the projects will be run by an outside project management consultant or company.
It is part of every project and is the most important role in the project.
The most important role, in any self-build project, is the role of Project Manager. This is a straight statement of fact and anyone that tries to say otherwise is guilty of living in denial - sorry but that's the truth.
Project management is part of every project - it exists even if everyone denies its existence. Someone will be doing some or all of it at every stage of the project. So better to acknowledge that at the start and take it on board, control it and use it to your benefit. Make it work for you by understanding its implications rather than have it work against you by ignoring it and hoping it will go away - it won't!
Anyone can do it! But should everyone do it?
This is a role anyone can take on but there are certain implications and effects on the persons life that need fully engaging with before the role is accepted. Although anyone can take it on, some of you may decide not to when you see the nature of the job; in all its gory detail! It requires the ability to balance many different skills and tasks at the same time while leaving enough head space to deal with minute by minute and day by day issues that are inherent in any and all construction project management situations.
So will you take it on? And, more to the point, should you take it on? After all it's your project and only you can know if it's the right thing for you, your partner and family and your project.
Cost effective use of resources? Relinquish, or take, control?
Lets look at some initial considerations. Do you work? How much do you earn? Is your budget able to provide some of the costs of an external project manager? The fact that to be an effective project manager you need to be site based for most of the week means that you will most often need to give up your job or take an extended period of unpaid leave (upwards of a year to a year and a half).
Is it cost effective for you to do this? If you went to work and paid an external project manager to take control (and responsibility) from your wages would you have a better quality of life during the project? Would you feel out of sync with it? Could you relinquish that much control? Only you can decide these things but just make sure you at least consider all the options and consequences before accepting the role. It will cost more, proportionally speaking, to engage a project manager further down the line to rescue a self build nightmare than it would to include one from the start with a contract and guarantees etc.
Watching 'Grand Designs' and 'Property Ladder' every week has shown all of us two things that happen in real life on nearly all projects.
Projects run over schedule!
Sometimes by as much as twice or three times as long as the original forecasts. Can you take that much time off work if things run seriously over schedule?
Projects run over Budget.
Some of the projects we see on those programs achieve a very commendable 0% to 10% over run, but we have all seen the episodes of both shows that have over runs of 100% to 150%!! Are you the sort of person who needs to be in charge of the pennies and the schedule; so that if there is a budget over run you can confidently say - ' there was no more that could have been done'?
Or would you be better suited to living slightly removed from the day to day ups and downs and fully trusting an outside agency to summarise and report back to you throughout the project?
Predicting the future, based on experience.
Now no one can predict the future - except possibly Nostra Damus (and that's very debatable). However the role of project manager involves a need to try and do just that. University and books cannot teach this - only experience, proper systems and management can help avoid the worst of unexpected costs, events and weather.
The role of the project manager is to plan for the best and worst situations; to have a plan for as many eventualities as possible. To know the project 'inside and out' so that you can make decisions on the fly in line with your long term and short term project plans and goals.
Making that decision consciously puts you in the top rankings of self build managers everywhere!
When considering all of the above in your process to decide which way to go, please don't be put off or frightened by the reality. Enjoy it! I know that sounds weird but looking at this without blinkers is the first step to successful project management. You have put yourself in the top rankings by even 'deciding to decide' rather than allowing the decision to happen to you!
If, having considered your options, you decide to go for the self managed route then there is a third option; a middle way. Some companies offer real time project management support. These are much less expensive than full external project management but allow you to self manage with some one to back you up!
The learning curve to successful project management is based on education and experience. Learning at the same speed as your project AND having someone with 20 years experience to talk to once a week and email often, could be seen to be the best of both worlds.
Which ever route you choose, choose from a place of calm, knowledge and understanding. Ask questions and talk to your partner(s) in the project, be honest and open about both hopes and fears. When you decide which route to take be decisive. I wish all of you, in the enviable position of starting a self build of any size or type, luck, wisdom and a successful build.
(c) Mark Watson 2009
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