There is no doubt that construction projects, even small ones like remodeling your home's kitchen, can be big undertakings that require the expertise of a project manager. Great project managers have years of knowledge, experience, and know-how under their belts in order to coordinate so many moving parts. Any construction build can be maximized to improve efficiency and lower expenses, whether it’s a simple home build or a major extension to a business complex. At Wagner Used Equipment, we provide construction project managers and construction professionals with the heavy equipment needed to get jobs done both right and rapidly. In this article, we’ll review the tips that professional construction equipment operators and project managers recommend for new project builds. Regardless of your area of expertise, you’re likely to find something of value in this list of technical tricks. Contact us today!

EXPERT TIPS ON CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT

Tip 1: Plan Everything

The best project managers have every little detail of their construction project mapped out. In project management, there are five traditional phases: pre-planning, planning, pre-building, building, and the final walkthrough. Every step within these phases will need a solid plan, and the planning doesn't stop just because the building begins. Planning is an on-going process that requires active management in order for there to be no hiccups and costly delays. Before you break ground, you’ll need to estimate the cost, square footage, and timeline of your construction project. When looking at cost estimates alone, you’ll calculate this number by combining your projected needs for labor, construction materials, and heavy equipment (whether you rent it or buy it). Sometimes when calculating and estimating the cost and investment of a construction project, it can be helpful to look at the numbers reported by other completed builds in the area. Comparing your estimates to those of surrounding builders will help you determine whether you’re on the right track, underestimating, or likely to go far over budget. If you’re working with a professional builder or contractor, it can also help you know whether their fee structure is reasonable. For instance, a heavy equipment operator might be hired to use a dozer for your construction project in the early demolition phase. You’ll need to calculate the cost for their time and labor, as well as the fee of renting the industrial machinery. Wagner Used Equipment offers used heavy equipment for sale or rent to fit your construction budget needs. We have many dealer locations in Colorado, New Mexico, and far west Texas. Call us today to learn more.

Tip 2: Know Your Contract Terms

Contractors and customers need to be on the same page — literally. That’s why contract documents are so critical to the legal security of a construction site and project. Contracts can prevent unnecessary arguments, facilitate effective communication, and minimize legal complications if anything is to go wrong on the job site. One of the biggest hazards of any new construction project is the presence and operation of heavy equipment. Take Cat products for example. One of their most popular pieces of machinery is the mini excavator. Despite its name, these pieces of heavy equipmebt can weigh in at up to 12,000 pounds. Proper use of Cat and heavy machinery is of the utmost importance. Safety should be paramount while on the job site. Doing your daily briefings and ensuring everyone understands the safety protocols are paramount to your success.

Tip 3: Get Technical

You'll be hard pressed to find people these days who can read blueprints because everything now is on the computer or on your smartphone. There are now hundreds of apps and software programs designed to help make your construction management job easier. Construction management technology has reached new levels of effectiveness and affordability. With products like Trimble Inspection solutions, you can manage your fleet of heavy equipment, compartmentalize assets, and maintain machines all with the same convenient device. The easy to use construction management software is also totally digital — i.e. paper and waste-free — and it’s free from human error thanks to super-reliable computers and technology. Wagner Used Equipment offers smartphone apps and online services to make your used heavy equipment purchase or rental easy. You can make your payments online, request service on your Cat machine, or speak to a helpful professional Cat technician. All of our used equipment and new equipment can be browsed online, and you can order Cat parts online, either shipped to your house or to us for in-store pickup. We try to make it quick and easy for you so you can get back to your construction project expeditiously. Call one of our Cat equipment dealers in Colorado, New Mexico, or Texas today!

Tip 4: Communicate Effectively

Communication is key when you are managing a huge construction project with so many moving parts, from subcontractors and raw material deliveries to the electrician and pulling permits, you've got a lot on your plate to handle. A construction project manager needs to be able to communicate both written and face-to-face. Being prompt to reply to questions, emails, and texts eliminates people standing out around waiting for answers. Knowing when to create a paper trail for communication matters and when verbal works also can save valuable time as well. Project managers need to ensure everyone is in the loop on important communication matters. They can also share their calendars with everyone and sync documents for all to see. Notifying everyone when the budget changes is important as well. The better the communication flow of your construction site, the more likely your project will be on time and on budget. One of Wagner Used Equipment's values in action is communication, as we endeavor to share our knowledge and grow our team as well. We offer machine control systems in order to maximize the efficiency of your heavy equipment while on the job. These systems can cut the time of your jobs, thereby saving both labor and time on the job. In addition, by investing in Cat attachments for your heavy equipment, you'll save time switching out simple attachments quickly rather than bringing in a whole new heavy equipment rental machine.

Tip 5: Embrace Delegation

As a project manager, it can be incredibly easy to be pulled in multiple directions, and a lot of the time, these directions don't necessarily require you — someone else can handle them. The key to efficiency and maximizing returns is delegation as any great leader will tell you. When you take the time to communicate tasks and delegate them out, you will save so much more time in the future. The more helping hands you have, the more you will accomplish, and the better your customer satisfaction rating will be. You also need to prioritize your tasks accordingly in order to ensure the important ones get done. This then frees up valuable time for when the unexpected crops up and demands your immediate attention, which happen more often than not.

CHOOSE THE BEST USED CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT

Wagner Used Equipment offers the best used construction equipment in Colorado, New Mexico, and west Texas. We support our construction project managers with the best customer service, Cat Part Store, and Cat equipment maintenance. If a piece of heavy equipment goes down on your job site, you'll now be looking at costly delays you will have to make up somehow. When you partner with us, we've got all of your construction equipment needs met, from attachments to machine control systems, skid steers, scrap processing, water equipment, and so much more. We offer a wide variety of other used equipment that can meet your construction project needs as well. We offer generator sets in case you need to make up for lost time by working at night. These are portable power systems that can provide electricity to your light towers and your trailer. We have air compressors when you need more air in your truck or your heavy equipment's tires. We even offer towable heaters for those cold winter days that you need to keep both your crew and your equipment warm. And don't forget our amazing financing deals either. When you need the best support as a construction project manager, turn to Wagner Used Equipment. Visit one of our many dealers in Colorado, New Mexico, or west Texas, or browse online today!