Importance of Project Management on Renovations

One of the services we offer is Master Plan Design Strategy. This means we design a space and provide all details to the client so they can order, implement, install and manage the project as their time and budget allow. Our Full Service Master Plan and Implementation includes project management, which we call contract administration.

Though this may sound simple in concept, the implementation often becomes tricky. As an example, a former Design Strategy client contacted me last December and asked for help. What was supposed to be an easy kitchen refresh, taking no longer than one month to complete, turned into a multi-month saga for him and his family.

No Written Expectations

They hired a contractor who worked, they were told, on high-end projects. If this were true, though, the contractor did not make this project a priority because many things fell through the cracks, were done poorly, or left entirely unaddressed.

Clipboard with Ruxanas Home Interiors Written Design Process and project management details

No Project Management

There was no site supervisor providing project management so subcontractors were left on their own. Even though detailed plans were provided to the subcontractors, my clients arrived home to discover that their kitchen island was installed in the wrong place! They were horrified. My client said, “I’m not a contractor but even I can read a tape measure.”

No Project Calendar

Another subcontractor provided an estimate to refinish the floors, but he exceeded the timeline by several weeks, which delayed work by other subcontractors.

Lack of Communication

Though the entire project suffered from an extreme lack of communication, my client said it worsened near the end. The contractor, key vendors and subcontractors assumed someone ELSE was addressing an issue so simple tasks — such as ordering wallpaper and installing cabinet hardware — lingered on the punch list for months. These and other seemingly ‘small’ issues frustrated my client as weeks slipped by when nothing was done.

This is why my firm requires that someone be on-site to inspect deliveries and observe installations. When we provide Full Service Master Plan and Implementation, we have a clear, detailed Letter of Agreement that outlines all elements of the project. We have a written process for our team members and we provide site supervision and contract administration. Essentially, we have your backs.

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Have a well-designed day,