Pre-Construction & Project Management
Course goal
Our goal in this course is to teach you the best residential construction Pre-Construction and Project Management practices we know.
With a new (or renewed) foundation of these skills we hope you end the course with more confidence in your work, access to new tools, and a
network of other emerging project managers and estimators in the industry.
Glossary
Session 1
Welcome, Overview, the Importance of Pre-Construction
Agenda
Welcome/Intro to HELM
Goals of Course
Land Acknowledgement
Participant Introductions
What is Pre-Construction and Why We Encourage It
Tasks During Pre-Construction & Build
Homework
Make a copy (use the File drop-down menu > Make a Copy) of the Pre-Con, PM, & Lead Tasks Checklist (included in the Resources section below)
Customize the Pre-Con Tasks tab for your company
Share with Tia (tia@buildhelm.com) if you have questions or want feedback.
Resources
Pre-Con, PM & Lead, Tasks Checklist (Google Sheet shared as “view only”. Make a copy to edit)
Charging for the Estimate: How to Avoid Giving Away a Lot of Free Work by Brian Altmann (Note access to this article requires registering with The Journal of Light Construction - which is free)
Session 2
Estimating Basics and Cost Codes
Agenda
Why Estimate w/Cost Codes - showing what's possible
Sample Project Estimate
Your Approach to the Estimate
Estimate Versus Actuals Report
Homework
Resources
Session 3
Markups and Early Estimates
Agenda
Homework Review
Profit is Not a Happy Accident
Profit, Markup, Margin
Prelim / SD Estimate Techniques - 2 ways to do this
Evolution of the Estimate
Homework
Update the Project Management tab (“PM Tasks”) of your checklist to fit your role/company. (Our view-only template was shared in Session 1 above.)
Resources
Session 4
Pre-Construction & Construction Contracts, What to Charge for Pre-Con
Agenda
Review Homework
Agreements and Contracts (HELM Suggestions)
Contract Essentials
Explain the Problem
What to Charge for Pre-Construction
Homework
Read Schedule Management for Project Managers by Doug Horgan
Make a copy of the Pre-Con Budget sheet and use it to estimate how much you should carry for a real, upcoming project. If you don’t have one, use a previous project referencing only the preliminary info you received. Share your estimate with Tia and Kath.
Resources
Fine Homebuilding Pre-Mortem by Fernando Pages Ruiz (requires registering for a Free Trial from Fine Homebuilding)
The Pre-Mortem: A Simple Technique to Save Any Project From Failure by Tyler Tevooren
Sales Process Webinar (addresses selling pre-construction)
Session 5
Scheduling
Agenda
Review Homework
Scheduling Best Practices
Types of Schedules: Pre-Construction; Construction; Pipeline Trackers
When Schedules Need to Change
Homework
Create Pre-Construction budget for an upcoming project.
Resources
Session 5 Slides
Session 5 Video
Session 6
How to Run a Project: PM Responsibilities
Agenda
Review Homework
Project Management Tasks during the project
Running Meetings / Meeting agenda and notes
Schedule Adjustments
Daily Logs
Job Cost Accounting
Change Orders
Work Culture
Safety
Resources
Session 6 Slides
Session 6 Video
Daily Job Site Log Template (Google Doc, shared as view only - make a copy)
Meeting Notes Template with CSI Codes (Google Sheet, shared as view only - make a copy)
Change Orders Can Help Avoid Dreaded Lawsuits by Scott Wynn (requires registering for a Free Trial from Fine Homebuilding)
Watch video on change orders (This Mistake Nearly Put Me Out of Business by Matt Risinger, 8 minutes)
Reap the Bottom-Line Benefits of Active Job Cost Accounting by Doug Phelps. (Construction Business Owner - limited free articles) Please excuse the reference to "man hours".
Session 7
Project Management: Keeping Your Projects on Track Through Close Out
Agenda
How Does a PM Keep a Project on Track
Close out process w/Client
Close out process w/Team
Resources
Session 7 Slides
Session 7 Video
Punchlist Template (Google Sheet, shared as view only - make a copy)