Simple Residential Construction Schedule – Tips on Using

Following the instructions in my three previous articles on scheduling you have now prepared a simple and workable schedule for a typical home. This schedule is a starting point. In this article you will learn a few tips on using the schedule.

The first step is it to get it out of your computer and put it somewhere where you look at it every day. I had one manager who kept all the schedules in a notebook.  His projects never seemed to run as smoothly as our other projects. It was hard for me to review his schedules to see where he was on any given day. Keeping the schedules in a notebook was his way of hiding his problems.

Once you add the starting date for your project and have the spread sheet calculate the schedule save it in a separate file then print the schedule. You want to save it because as you will see you want to be able to tweak the master as you work the schedules to continually improve it. Tape the sheets together. I liked to trim the top or bottom of the pages and tape them together so it looked like one long spread sheet.  Tape the reassembled schedule to a large wall or pin it to a bulletin board in an area where it is easily viewed.

As you complete each item on the schedule highlight the item. I liked to do it with an orange highlighter so I could see the marking from a distance but still read the words. Crossing the items off will make it harder to backtrack if you make and error.  Look at it frequently if not daily and update as necessary. As you work the schedule you will discover problems with times it takes to complete items, sequencing and even some items you have forgotten. Make sure you make corrections to your master so you do not repeat the problems.  

Be careful about adding time.  It the roofing is taking five days when you programmed in three why is it taking five when you though it should take three?  Was you assumption wrong or is there something wrong with the planning or even the trade contractor that can be corrected instead of just adding days to you schedule. Remember each day costs you money in overhead and interest.  

Often it is easier to add time than fix a problem. You should also test assumptions occasionally. If you have programmed in three days for the roof can it be done in three. It is harder to spot under scheduled times than over.

If you line up all the schedules of multiple houses on the wall the highlighted portions should create a smooth slope from the oldest project to the newest. This is not a perfect indicator but it is a great way to quickly spot possible problems that need be looked into in more detail.

The more you work the schedule the better it will become. Do not be afraid to add items. One of the fireplaces we offered as an option required a sheet metal cap installed after the siding was complete.  It was difficult to spot from the ground and so on one house we missed it and forgot to install the cap.  During the next rain water showed up on the interior wall. Once we diagnosed the problem we add a zero day work item to our schedule. We also added a zero day item just before our drywall that reminded us to check for the cap.  You can add whatever items you like from inspections to reminders. You can even add an item such as "remind the office to schedule closing." Whatever makes your process better.  

Original Content copyright 2011 Thomas Robinson