THINKING ABOUT PROJECT MANAGING YOUR BUILD?

Chances are it’ll be the hardest project you ever take on, so make sure you’re up to the task before you pop on your hard hat

Here’s everything you need to know before making the decision

R enovating is a big move, and it’s true that there’s nothing quite so sobering as watching the dust flying and the walls coming down on your beloved home. For some homeowners, project managing appeals as a way to control the process, and enjoy a beautiful new home they’ve had a hand in creating. Others would rather shoot themselves in the foot with a nail gun than take on that kind of burden. So, what do the experts think? Are you crazy to want to be hands on? Or would you be better off being resolutely hands off and sitting around the corner in a cute Airbnb sipping wine while someone else does the hard yards? Let’s break it down. WHAT THE BUILDER THINKS Getting a call to clean up a job that a homeowner thought they could project manage is par for the course for many builders, who get frustrated by people who think it’s a piece of cake, says our resident Panel builder Wayd Munro. “This is something builders do day in, day out – and when you’re trying to keep track of what the heck is going on, or all the trades coming and going, you can easily get in over your head,” he says.

Wayd’s seen some situations that could have been avoided, from minor to costly. “On one job, the homeowner had the home painted before calling the gyprocker to put the cornices up. The homeowner didn’t know that cornices don’t stick to paint and when they peeled off six months later, the gyprocker said it wasn’t his fault that the surfaces had been painted and it wasn’t up to him to fix it before doing his job. A builder or experienced project manager brings a wealth of knowledge that stops these things from happening – knowledge that most homeowners don’t have. So if you’re on the frontline making these mistakes, it can end up with things needing to be re-done, costing you way more.” WHAT THE DIY EXPERT THINKS On the flip side, Natasha Dickins from Little Red Industries (littleredindustries.com) believes you can save a lot of money by being the project manager. “For example, because you pay for a tradie’s time as well as their skills, you can pick up a lot of their organising, from ordering scaffolding and skips to literally getting on the phone to coordinate the trades,” she says.

“There’s also a great sense of achievement in being involved. You don’t have to get on the tools to be hands on. Project managing will come easier if you have a builder who talks to you – when things are going to plan and when they’re not! You also need to be organised, available and good-humoured.”

She’s also realistic about the mistakes that are easy to make, such as taking on DIY when you have no skills. “The same goes for being indecisive or fickle and making changes on the job which can cost time and money,” she says. “Another trip-up is assuming you can order materials or tradies on the spot. It pays to be in contact with suppliers weeks or months ahead of schedule.” KITCHEN, BATHROOM… OR NEITHER? So, you’ve decided you want to project-manage a reno. But whatever you do, says Wayd, don’t assume the bathroom or kitchen will be an ‘easy’ one to take on.

“Kitchens and bathrooms are the most difficult rooms to get right – don’t do it!” he says. “I would start small and learn as you go, like organising your timber flooring to be installed and sanded. Or if you have old windows you want to replace, it’ll involve a carpenter, a painter and potentially a gyprocker to patch walls and then you’ll learn bits and pieces and very quickly work it out.”

Then, he adds, you could move onto project-managing a kitchen or bathroom reno under the guidance of someone with experience. “And I definitely wouldn’t advise you tackle a $300k reno project on your own. You’ll end up in a world of trouble.”

should you hire a project manager? If you’re doing a huge renovation, the architect or builder you’ve hired will usually project manage the job and coordinate the trades and the budget. But on smaller jobs, you may want to engage a project manager. “Builders or interior designers can be hired solely to project manage a reno,” says Wayd, “and if it’s a cost-plus job, they’ll probably charge an hourly rate or a percentage of the overall job.” useful resources Laser focus and OCD-style organisation are key when you’re project-managing your reno – so try these game-changing tools

Trello Post-it Note aficionados will love this powerful website/ app. It enables you to create ‘boards’ for your project and you can add ideas, links and images to relevant lists. It’s also easy to share boards with your builder or architect. trello.com. Hipages Need to replace a sick plumber fast? This site is brilliant for finding local trades and their price before you hire them. Simply upload details of your job and wait for the quotes to come rolling in. homeimprovementpages.com.au. Google Drive Wayd’s favourite app for organising files and keeping everyone informed, this popular cloud app syncs across your devices, keeps information up to date, and enables you to easily share files with specific people. drive.google.com.