BMJ Project Management

bmjdecoration@live.ca www.bmjdecoration.com By Phone (819) 360-8672 By Mail BMJ Decoration 58 Lisieux Gatineau, Qc J8T 4P3	Your ideas... Our expertise!

	Because we understand that time is often an issue in most homes, we have put together a Project Management service that will not only allow you to have more time for yourself and your loved ones, it will also alleviate the stresses involved in home renovations/upgrades. We also understand, however, that hiring management services is an important decision and, therefore, must be an educated one. As such, the information below will help you decide if you require project management services and will also provide you with some key facts on undertaking such a task.

		Ask yourself the right questions	Do you REALLY know what's involved in seeing the project to completion? Often times, clients will underestimate the work involved in completing a project and, as such, see their budget being grossly over-extended. Here's an example: When thinking of adding a built-in shelf to an existing wall, most clients will anticipate an opening being cut in the wall and a shelf being inserted. In fact, this project is much more complex! Before cutting an opening in a wall a survey of the home's blueprint or an inspection of the structure must be performed to determine if the wall is a load bearing wall, if there's electrical wiring or plumbing running through it. Afterwards, a drywall or general contractor must cut through the drywall and framing, add new framing to support and anchor the new shelf; all the while insuring that the local building codes are respected. Note: if a drywall expert is hired, a professional framer will also need to be hired to frame for the new shelf. Once the contractor has completed his work, a craftsman will construct the shelving unit to the specified dimensions and client's specifications to then install in it the home/location. After the shelving unit is securely in place, the craftsman will measure, cut and install molding around the exterior edges of the unit to provide it with a finished look! Not as simple as the first option! And there is definitely greater costs involved than what might have been anticipated!
			Do you REALLY know how much it costs? Because the local building centers are now accessible to the general public, it is common for clients to assume that they know the cost of building supplies. The truth, however, is that most will not be aware of which material is proper for the project at hand, and will not take into consideration the cost of the hardware necessary to complete the project(nails, screws, putty, saws, ect.). Also, the labor costs involved may vary depending on a number of factors such as the age of your home, the location, the materials being used, the existing material of the home, the local building codes, ect... An omission of any of the above may result in a budget and time inflation.
			Do you REALLY have the time and patience to coordinate the trades people? Hiring and coordinating one tradesperson can be a stressful experience, let alone 5 to 10 ,or more, depending on the scale of the project. While the trades people you hire may be trustworthy, there are factors such as , weather, sickness and back orders that cannot be avoided. As such, the timeline for the trades people scheduled to come in after may need to be altered, which results in more time being spent on your project. You need to be available to spend time on site. This could be anywhere from 10 to 40 hours per week, depending on the stage in the process. If you have a demanding full time job, be prepared to take time off.

	Below are a few tips and pointers on how to lower your stress level should you choose to undertake the management of your project
	Budget very carefully. Take into account your combined household income and expenditure, your savings and assets, your existing mortgage and other liabilities such as credit cards and car repayments. Then leave plenty of slack for "unexpected contingencies" — at least 20 percent. Bad luck, like good luck, is part of life and the wise person budgets for it. The last thing you need is to have to live in a half-finished house for six months until you scrape together the funds to finish the job. Outsource where economic or prudent. Should you choose to go down the DIY path of renovation, there still will be some parts of the job for which you will need to hire tradesmen. Do your calculations carefully because sometimes it is either cheaper (sometimes compulsory) to outsource certain functions, which will also reduce your workload. These usually encompass jobs such as kitchen cupboards, plumbers and electricians. Then there are many jobs that are quite simply better outsourced to ensure a far superior outcome and save enormous stress. Many DIY renovators swear by the value of hiring a good tile installer, for example, and roofers. Do your research on the local council to make sure that your plans comply with guidelines before submitting them for approval. If you employ an architect, they should do this work for you. A good builder should also be able to give you advice. Having to go back to the drawing board will set you back months. Don't start purchasing materials until you have development approval. Beware dangerous materials. Be very wary of asbestos in old buildings as this could seriously blow out your budget, not to mention your health if you are a DIY renovator. Check your trades people's work constantly. To the best of your ability, monitor the work closely so that you catch any mistakes the builder might make before they become "built-in". If you have an architect, he should do this for you. Finding out too late is very stressful. It will most likely involve a confrontation with the trades person, not to mention the ramifications of that dispute. Plan your renovations so that they will accommodate changes in your future, such as additional children, and so they lend themselves readily to the next renovation. This is particularly relevant when you are planning a Band-Aid solution and will save you stress and money over time. Don't overcapitalize. Make sure that the renovations add value. For example, spending $40,000 to $60,000 for a new room in an old, poorly designed house may not be the best use of resources when, for upwards of $120,000, you can knock down and build a more modern, well-designed house that better meets your needs and will save on maintenance costs.

	No time to undertake the coordination of your project? Contact us for more information on our Project Management services.