Project Management of Renovations. Outline of Talk presented to Wealth Club - June 2009

1. John Rice
Project Management
of Renovations.
Copyright 2009 John Rice All Rights Reserved for Slideshow

2. Key Early Lessons
• Heavy & Dirty Jobs First.
• Ordering of Activities – Crucial.
• Importance of Good Project Management.

3. The Fixer Upper
• The Ghost of Sarah Beeny.
• Rising Market.
• Anybody can do a Fixer Upper.

4. End in Mind
• Money in Bank – Two Options.
• Sale or Tenancy.
• Property Marketed.
• Start Renovation.
• Finalised Plan.

5. Planning in Advance
• One possible reason why things are not
going according to plan – is that there
never was a plan.
• “Where you fail to plan – you plan to fail.”
YOU GOTTA HAVE A PLAN GUYS.

6. Target or Plan – Difference
• Be Clear in own mind re Distinction.
• The target is “This house will be sold by
30th September 2009”.
• The plan is the how “How this house will
be sold by 30th September 2009”.
• Aggressive but Realistic.

7. Programme
– A Programme may best be described as a
‘logical and sequential listing of activities from
commencement to completion of a Project.
– You need to know it
– Your builder needs to know it
– Your funding body as you move forward will
want to know it

8. Critical Path
– A delay to any activity on the Critical Path will
result in a delay to the Overall Programme.
There is no ‘float’ in any activity that lies on
the Critical Path.
– Where an activity has float – delay in respect
of this activity may not impact the Critical Path
and resultantly may not delay the overall
project.

9. Project Management
• Who is Driving The Bus?
• You – Be aware of undertaking.
• Single Point Responsibility
Copyright © Rice 2009

10. Order & Sequencing of
Activities
• Learn to understand the Jargon
• First Fix – Carcassing (The Bones)
• Second Fix – Finishing Off
• Final Touches
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11. Progress Monitoring
• You must be able to monitor progress that
is your KPI – and its FUN.
• Gantt Charts
• Google ‘You Tube – Gantt Charts – Excel
2007.
• Microsoft Project.
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12. Tweaks & Improvements
• Improve Planning.
• Improve Materials Management.
• Plan for Contingencies.
• Keep Records
• Managing the Worksite eficiently.

13. Tweaks & Improvements
• Improve Quality Assurance /Checking.
• Don’t try to get to far ahead of game.
• Improve Communication.
• Instigate Change Management Control.
• Keeping Check on Budget regularly.

14. Have A Solid Contract
– Details of the work being carried out.
– Cost.
– Start Date.
– Finish Date.
– Penalties for failure to finish by Finish Date.
– Reference to Descriptions of Work
/Specifications better define your Actual
Requirements.
– Must have Statement signing it means
agreeing to its terms.
Copyright © Rice 2009

15. Purpose of A Contract
– Benefits.
• It puts you on a Professional Footing with
your Contractor from the outset.
• Prevents in most instances genuine
misunderstandings from arising.
• It stops you in other less likely cases being
taken advantage of.
• Intention should not be used irresponsibly by
Employer.
• Should stay in Filing Cabinet for duration of
contract.
Copyright © Rice 2009

16. Actual Contract
– Do not try to re-invent wheel.
– Use a standard contract please!!
– Nothing unique about your renovation trust
me!
– www.ciob.org.uk
– www.rics.org.uk
– www.fmb.co.uk
– Personal preference JCT forms of Contract.
Copyright © Rice 2009

17. Payments to Contractor
– No deposit to buy materials – not way to
operate.
– Always be fair to tradesman at all times have
integrity.
– Work out payment system in advance.
– Stage payments – payments should lag
behind the works at all times.
– Hold a retention 10% as guarantee /or
pending final inspection.
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18. Cost Overrun
– Cost overruns occur in 4 ways only.
• Initially you do not have enough experience to
know what things cost in reality.
• You miss detail items and these add up at
scary rate – becomes a snowball in not
careful.
• You decided to add items to your initial
specification.
• Your contractor is trying it on!
Copyright © Rice 2009

19. Value Cost Items - Bathrooms
– Clean, bright sparkly. It should glow.
– ‘Expensive Looking’ mixer taps.
– Separate shower – Power shower if poss.
– Good ventilation.
– Spotlights.
– Hygenic floor surface.
– En-Suite Bathrooms.
– Natural light
– Clean tile surround to wet areas at least.
– Key is SIMPLICITY with a hint of WARMTH.
Copyright © Rice 2009

20. Value Cost Items – Kitchen
– Often described as Social Hub of entire
house. Can be a huge winner in terms of
revenue generation – so important to get
right.
– Can absorb a great deal of your budget so
shop carefully.
– Down market cabinets – Exotic woods such
as cherry.
– Forget heavily stained woods – lose natural
feel.
– Laquer coating – avoid strip down and apply
natural wax.
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21. Value Cost Items – Kitchen
– Kitchen Layout i.e. The famous design
triangle Fridge,Cooker,Sink.
– Plenty storage space consider a drawer/larder
type storage unit where space permits.
– Dishwasher essential.
– Quality worktops – Stone (such as granite)
are pricey but best.
– Good Quality & Robust Floor – love Stone but
like slate is cold finish / Wood warmer and
can look classy /Slate sometimes cheaper
than plastic tiles that look like slate.
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22. Value Cost Items – Kitchen
– Good natural light.
– Good artificial light to show off those super
worktops – consider recessed halogens.
– Plenty of sockets please buyers love and is
low cost item.
– High quality splashback tiling – personal
choice but ceramic tiling is fine it is a matter of
choice.
– KEY is CLEAN, FRESH & WARM.
Copyright © Rice 2009

23. Value Cost Items – Exterior
– Exterior is often forgotten sadly.
– Outstanding efforts internally are undone by
shabby exterior.
– Not that I listen to Anne Maurice much but
she is BANG ON MARK here – KERB
APPEAL.
– Major opportunity to provide additional living
space at very little cost.
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24. Value Cost Items – Exterior
– Consider options for additional living space.
 Walk out porch.
 Deck
 Gazebo or Summer House.
 Sun Trap
 Traditional Patio.
 Good Lawn.
 Cosy BBQ area.
Copyright © Rice 2009

25. Value Cost Items – Exterior
– Focus on simple straightforward
improvements.
 Generate clean lines where overgrown grass.
 Kerbing is irregular sort it – straight lines
 Remove dead looking bushes.
 Replace dead looking patio area with decking.
 Clear litter /Remove weeds.
 Sort out eyesores – Broken Steps /Fencing
 Key is as inside – CLEAN,BRIGHT & WARM.
Copyright © Rice 2009

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