Construction projects are social processes that comprise various facets, stakeholders, risks, and challenges. Therefore, construction delays are unearthing their ugly head in building projects. Nevertheless, most of these causes can be foreseen if the project manager takes his/her time to plan and estimate carefully before starting the project. This article offers advice to construction estimators and highlights potential ways of reducing delays due to scheduling and cost estimation.

Understanding Typical Causes of Project Delays

However, for estimators to work to mitigate delays, they require information on some of the potential causes of delays in construction projects. Some of the most common causes include: 

• Inaccurate Scheduling: Failure to order tasks correctly or failing to allocate appropriate time may cause the schedule to get off track.
• Poor Estimating: Overlooking the costs or quantity of materials used means that the budget is affected in some way.
• Scope Changes: The client wants changes to be done halfway through working on the project which affects the timeline.
• Weather Issues: Natural disasters such as storms, high winds, or any other natural calamity.
• Equipment Failures: Disruptions in vital machinery lead to downtimes in work.
• Permit Delays: Project development is slow due to waiting for permits from local authorities.

This is because, if estimators do not consider such risks when developing plans and costing, their work will always be slowed down.

Key Areas for Estimators to Prevent Delays

As the construction expert on a project, Construction Estimator has an opportunity to minimize delays in two key areas: scheduling and budgeting.

Create Detailed and Realistic Schedules

The project schedule offers a plan of what work will be done at what time. Any form of underestimation of the scheduled time leads to a scenario that is likely to be characterized by delays at some or many points later. If you are an estimator, the key thing to aim at is to develop accurate and detailed schedules.

• Define dependencies between tasks: Explain which tasks can follow one another and which ones can take place in parallel within phases.
• Allocate appropriate time spans: This will require a reasonable time estimate for each of the steps depending on the scope and available resources.
• Acquire some form of margin: Incorporate spare time in the scheduled risk register for unforeseeable incidences.
• Coordinate with all teams: Involve designers, vendors, and subcontractors to work together on the time management process.

With proper planning and a proper understanding of how to schedule the construction process, there should not be many problems that come up to delay the construction phase.

Prepare Accurate And Complete Cost Estimates

Inaccurate budget estimates are another factor attributed to delay. Failure to accurately estimate any of the costs impacts the scheduling of work when funds last longer than estimated. For the estimator, refine your estimate to ensure that shocks are not felt on the budget.

• Detail quantity takeoffs: Don’t estimate, don’t approximate, actually measure what is required.
• Project accurate unit costs: The actual cost per unit must be estimated by researching the rates applicable in the local environment and adjusting for inflation. Get vendor quotes.
• Contingencies should be sufficient: Increase estimates for any scope creases, quantities, etc.
• Model different scenarios: Prepare for different estimates for the best/worst case.

These estimates provide a strong defense and are resistant to the dangers of coming up short and delaying work for funds.

Leveraging Technology for Efficiency and Accuracy

To attain such a level of planning, it is only possible to minimize delays, and this in turn puts pressure on the estimators. CAD Design Services and construction estimating software offer technology to supplement estimators’ work.

CAD Programs

Computer-aided design (CAD) software expedites the creation of accurate construction plans estimators can rely on, including: 

• 3D modeling and clash detection: Is proactive in identifying problems.
• Automated quantities and cost estimation: Provides quick quantification of materials required.
• Graphics and illustrations: Clarification of understanding with other teams.

Sophisticated design tools provide estimators with clear and comprehensive project visualization to generate accurate schedules and estimates.

Estimating Software

Dedicated estimating platforms make compiling comprehensive budgets easier for estimators, allowing them to: 

• Create templates for estimates in a short time: Offer structures to quickly set prices for some certain type of job.
• It makes it easier to update the pricing databases and consolidates the latest vendor and subcontractor rates.
• Integrate with scheduling software: synchronizes estimating assumptions with work sequences in the schedule.
• Take off quantities directly from digital plans: it helps in avoiding manual takeoffs and provides accurate quantities.

High-quality estimating software allows construction cost professionals to generate accurate estimates of construction costs within short time frames to support realistic construction schedules.

Partnering with Specialized Estimating Firms

Some Construction Estimating Companies or developers do not employ licensed estimators who have specific knowledge that is crucial to avoid delays. In these cases, there is a possibility of subcontracting to construction estimation companies and accessing the expertise of these professionals.

Outsourcing estimators bring in third-party and unbiased cost estimates plus innovative methods making use of technology advances. The outside estimators supplement the internal team by providing efficiency, accuracy, and capacity for scheduling or estimating. This enables projects to commence with sound strategies that can be implemented on workflow sequences, manpower, machinery, etc. to prevent situations that cause delays.

Although many construction companies are big and also involved in large and complex building projects, additional help during the planning stage is helpful. Third-party estimators are often more experienced and can cover various types of projects. It also means that their sole work of estimating allows them to devote more effort and planning toward such early development tasks than a regular PM often can.

The whole project lifecycle is much more efficient when backed by a considerable amount of preparation work done by construction estimators, where data plays the primary role. Being strict with schedules and estimates is helpful in the end because it helps avoid additional costs.

Conclusion

However, in construction management, it is very important to note that if there are no plans, then there is a plan to fail. Still, with the right scheduling and sound budgeting done with the help of experienced estimators with the use of enabling technologies, projects may be kicked off with the right information. Establishing realistic project timelines allows for work to be done and completed as effectively as possible.

Surprises can still occur during building; however, with estimators playing a critical role in early planning and estimation, every project has the opportunity to succeed—on schedule and within budget. Thus, with a clear understanding of the construction program interdependencies, proper strategic contingency planning, and the involvement of all stakeholders, even large construction programs can effectively reduce such costs by making accurate estimations during the program planning phase.

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