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Experience enables one to develop an almost unconscious ability to manage risk. We learn to avoid potential hazards or pass on the liability to someone else, as when we buy insurance for our homes. Unfortunately, few of us have the experience when it comes to...

One of the key ingredients in completing a project on time and on budget is momentum. Like many tasks, most of the effort is in starting the work. Think of those Monday morning blues. Now imagine a work site with a crew of 40 and how tough it is to get things moving...

Cowboy builders are legendary. Stories abound of construction nightmares like a three-day job that took six months to complete. There is no comfort in being victimized in this way; one way of avoiding the cowboy builder is to do it yourself. However, if the job is...

The Three Little Pigs had very different ideas on home improvements. Two of them couldn’t see problems ahead, much to the joy of the Big Bad Wolf. Some good professional advice and common sense could have helped them avoid total disaster. When considering building or...

Once you have completed your feasibility study, and confirmed that you can afford what you want, you can proceed to the design stage of your project.  To begin the design stage you will need to select a designer and enter into a design contract that records your...

One of the most common calls we receive is, “We have just received bids from contractors and they are almost twice our budget”. This is avoidable through using good project management techniques.  There are two causes. Either you were not careful enough in selecting...

Have you ever heard the story about the couple who started building their dream home but ran out of money leaving it unfinished? Imagine you were fortunate enough to book a once in a lifetime Caribbean cruise. Think of how you would feel if you got half way through...

Not all builders turn up on time and finish when they say they will. For most of us, “having the builders in” can be a difficult time and a real inconvenience so the sooner they are complete the better! There is nothing more annoying than being told the job will be...

It’s a pity the Lone Ranger and Tonto were never asked to write a contract. They used simple language, could hear trouble coming down the tracks, stopped foul play, stuck up for the little guy and arrested cowboys all over the land! It is a sad fact that many people...

There are many people who like to read a road map when they travel. Maps can be indispensable aids to help one get from point A to point B.  Construction projects are similar to a road trip. We call the road map the brief. To get to your destination you need an up to...

As a project manager, it is common to receive phone calls from people seeking help with their project because something has gone wrong.  While things can be done at that stage, the key to success is good project management.  Many projects proceed without a clear...