CATEGORY | Construction Process

10 Things To Exclude From A Construction Bid, Proposal Or Contract
Construction Documents & Templates

10 Things To Exclude From Construction Bids, Proposals & Contracts

All construction projects begin on paper. Tied with drawings, the most important pieces of paper on a construction project are those included in the legal documents. Legal terms are found most defined in the final contract executed between a client and contractor, but even the terms and conditions submitted as part of a construction bid or proposal are critical and carry legal implications, too. This is why it’s essential that contractors understand what to exclude from a construction bid, proposal or contract. In this article, we’ll cover 10 must-know things to exclude in your next construction project.

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What Do RFP & RFQ Mean In Construction? Free RFP & RFQ Templates
Construction Documents & Templates

What Do RFP & RFQ Mean In Construction? Free RFP & RFQ Templates

The execution of a construction project heavily relies on making purchases. While it’s no mystery that budgeting and cost control are vital aspects of construction management, the actual act of making purchases is important in and of itself. Whether we’re purchasing material and equipment or contracting out a portion of our work, there’s an art and a science behind the procurement process of a project. Within this process are some common acronyms, specifically RFP and RFQ. What do RFP and RFQ mean in construction? That’s what we’re exploring in this article. We’re also giving away a FREE RFP Word template – scroll to download section!

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How To Manage Vendors Effectively As A Project Manager - 10 Crucial Tips
Construction Management

How To Manage Vendors Effectively As A Project Manager: 10 Crucial Tips

Vendors serve as the backbone of many projects. As a matter of fact, vendors play a critical role for any type of business. Vendors provide businesses with supplies, technology, equipment, services and about a million other things. Without these vendors, most businesses could not survive. The same can be said for projects – a bad vendor can make or break a project under the right circumstances. Project Managers must learn to manage vendors effectively from day one to maximize their relationship, while protecting the project from possible downsides. In this article, we’re exploring how to manage vendors effectively as a Project Manager, along with 10 crucial tips for success!

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Understanding Building Permits, Plus A Building Permit Process Flowchart
Construction Documents & Templates

Understanding Building Permits, Plus A Building Permit Process Flowchart

Wouldn’t it be great if we could just pull up to a vacant lot and begin construction on a new building? If there weren’t any restrictions on what we can do to buildings, if there weren’t any permissions required to perform work? While it’s tempting to say “yes, that’d be PERFECT”, we should hit pause. Building permits are a vital part of maintaining our country’s infrastructure – they ensure that work will be performed in accordance with building codes, that it will be done correctly and that all parties involved are on the same page before any work begins. They’re also necessary for properly documenting project documents like drawings, inspections, etc. This article is all about understanding building permits, plus a building permit process flowchart/infographic!

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The Purpose Of Mockups In Construction & Why They're So Important
Construction Management

The Purpose Of Mockups In Construction & Why They’re So Important

Everyone knows what a construction project looks like – the equipment, workers, cranes, scaffolding, fences and noise are obvious indicators. Likewise, everyone has seen a huge roll of full-size construction drawings, even if it was in a cartoon or movie. What you may or may not know about a construction project is that there’s a massive middle ground between drawings on paper and the newly finished construction project. In this article, we’re talking about the purpose of mockups in construction and why they’re so important. Let’s dive in!

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Procurement Strategy For Long Lead Items In Construction - A Few Tips
Construction Management

Long Lead Items: Procurement Tips In Construction & Project Management

On construction projects of all sizes, maintaining the schedule is paramount. While most projects experience some level of delay, a construction project can be heavily impacted, derailed and even cancelled when certain items in the scope don’t go as planned. This includes items with a long lead time – items that take a long time to actually get in hand. It’s extremely important that long lead items run smoothly through their entire process; from procurement to installation. In this article, we’re breaking down the procurement strategy for long lead items in construction, along with a few tips to consider!

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3 Week Look Ahead Schedule In Construction: Free Excel Template
Construction Documents & Templates

3 Week Look Ahead Schedule In Construction: Free Excel Template!

Every construction project has a schedule to keep. Even in the early stages of a construction project, Clients and Contractors alike must create a master schedule to determine a feasible, realistic completion date along with the steps it will take to get there. While master completion schedules are important, they don’t really provide enough data to determine the fine details of what’s happening today vs. tomorrow. Ironically, Contractors must get the short-term, “this week”-type of tasks nailed down solidly in order to ever actually keep up with the master schedule! In order to plan out the near future, Contractors rely on a specific technique. Today, we’re talking about the 3-week look ahead schedule in construction. We’re also giving away a FREE 3-week look ahead Excel template, too!

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What Is An Assistant Project Manager? A Brief Overview Of The Position
Construction Management

What Is An Assistant Project Manager? A Brief Overview Of The Position

Project Managers are in charge of the whole show – as far as the specific project is concerned, the buck stops with them (or their boss). Regardless, Project Managers are expected to make the big decisions on the job. By the time they’re even promoted to P.M., they already have several years of experience in the field. So what exactly are P.M.s doing before they become Project Managers. In this article, we’re discussing the question of “what is an Assistant Project Manager?”, including what A.P.M.s do and the type of experience they have.

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Avoiding Rework In Construction - 10 Common Causes & Solutions
Construction Management

Avoiding Rework In Construction: 10 Common Causes & Solutions

“There’s never enough time to do it right, but there’s always enough time to do it again.” This quote says a lot about human nature, the construction process and the corniness level found in the industry. It’s true, though – no large project will be without “rework”. Rework is work onsite that must be redone, the causes for which are varied and plentiful. While every contractor has experienced rework on their project at some point, none of them want to do it again. Rework affects the schedule, our reputations and of course, the bottom line. In an effort to be preventative, this article is all about avoiding rework in construction, along with 10 common causes and solutions for each!

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Putting A Project On Hold - When Project Managers Should Hit Pause
Construction Management

Putting A Project On Hold: When Project Managers Should Hit Pause

In the field of project management, we rarely hear of the words ‘slowing down’. In fact, those words often echo in infamy. Clients want their project completed as quickly as it can be. They’re more likely to request additional resources, more hours and accelerated timelines – slowing down or stopping isn’t something clients want to hear. Unfortunately, slowing down or hitting pause is the right thing to do for the Project Manager, despite what the client and even our own management may say. In this article, we’re discussing putting a project on hold and when P.M.s should hit that pause button!

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About This Topic

Construction projects of all types rely on certain processes and strategies in order to be successful. Planning is of utmost importance in the construction industry, but executing that plan is even more important. That said, even a perfect plan can get swept off the table in an instant when a surprise occurs. Therefore, it’s essential that construction Project Managers know how to plan a project, execute that plan and navigate through the unexpected when it comes. That’s why we have an entire section of our blog dedicated to the construction process! Browse articles related to project coordination, key roles and staff, vendors, subcontractors, delays, disputes, skillsets, types of contractors and management firms and other common experiences P.M.s have throughout the construction process!