Why is project management important?

As a single team, we offer interior architecture and interior design as well as project management to our clients. Irene and her staff lead the interior architecture/interior designing. Ian and his team work as in-house project managers and are usually on site or on the phone.
We are often asked by clients whether they really need a dedicated project manager. And what benefits a project manager can bring to the table.

This blog will discuss why they believe it is crucial to have an experienced project manager for large-scale renovations and refurbishments. We also explain why having both the internal and external design teams work together in the end.

What is project management?

In general, project management refers to managing the entire project from the budget and planning stages through execution.

Project managers in the luxury residential market are responsible for ensuring that all elements of the project are planned and costed. They also communicate with all stakeholders and must be approved and approved by the client. A project manager in luxury residential & hotel market requires a lot of creativity and design flair. This is to ensure that all the creative and unique ideas created by clients and the design team are implemented seamlessly.

A team of project managers who are successful is always at least five steps ahead. This includes planning permissions and financial checks, appointment of consultants, budgeting, sourcing craftmen, and all paperwork, health and safety provisions and insurance matters.
Why is project managing important?

The best project management teams can make a big difference in any project. It is possible to have stunning architecture, interior architecture, or an entire design scheme. But if deadlines and other key milestones are missed and budgets spiral out of control, if minor details are neglected, and project costs go up, the project can quickly turn from amazing to overwhelming. A homeowner may invest significant amounts into their home’s renovation or construction. A less than perfect space can make it difficult to enjoy.

Clients may consider having their architect, main contractor, or designer take over the project management role at no additional cost. While this is possible for clients with experience and who have worked on several projects, it’s not something that we would recommend to novices or those with weak hearts.

The vast majority of projects are full-time jobs for residential developments. In addition to having access to a vast network of trusted contractors and manufacturers, as well as having defined project checklists and programs, the team’s project managers will bring extensive experience in cost planning, contract management, value engineering, and organisational skills.

The average project will involve well over 20 specialists for the fixed parts. A white box finish on a new house can be completed with 5 trades. Although it is simple to fix any mistakes made on a white finish, it can be costly and time-consuming. This is not true for luxury interiors. It’s possible to make costly mistakes due to poor programming, missing design approvals or ineffective communication. It is extremely frustrating to have to ruin beautiful wall finishes just because a minor part of the electrical or mechanical services did not pass proper testing. It is easy to make mistakes when there are so many elements to check and approve.

The project manager’s job is usually more about pre-empting than solving problems. It is important to work with the architect or designer to fully understand the project and to ensure the execution on the site follows the same. It is much easier to rely on the years of practical experience of project managers.

Let’s get to the money!

Budgets are an aspect that architects and designers tend to avoid until it is too late in the tendering phase. This isn’t because you don’t know enough, but because the budget plays second fiddle in design. It is important to maintain a close relationship with your designer as well as the project manager in this area.

Clients do have a budget even for projects where money is not an object. The’shell and core’ construction costs are exempted from luxury interiors. A significant portion of funds will be used to purchase the finishes. Depending on what type of project, this may be multiple times the cost to build the shell.

It is possible to establish a cost plan, have early budget meetings with your design team and give an early indication to clients about the budget. The project managers will also be able to give a guideline to designers on how to budget.

A good project manager will provide support and checks for the design team. This includes suggesting areas for value engineering and proposing other finishes or materials. Also, managing the impacts of key design elements in the construction programme. Sometimes a minor modification in the design will result in weeks of savings and associated costs.

When can I tell if my project manager has been working well?

The best indicator that you are managing a project effectively is when you stop asking why you pay for the service.

Unfortunately, project managers often find themselves in the limelight only when things go wrong. However, it’s not luck that things turn out well. Behind the scenes there is a lot of email, calls, meetings, as well as a lot more paperwork to ensure the project runs smoothly. If you feel that the move in process was smooth and enjoyable, please give credit to your project manager.