We would like to welcome project manager Sarah-Jane Rumble to the AssetSphere team. Sarah-Jane brings with her a wealth of experience in project management and – importantly – the ability to save you time, stress and money.
Unlike designers, architects, builders, surveyors or similar professionals, project managers such as Sarah-Jane are independent and do not charge design-led fees. As such, they have no financial interest or motivation to spend a client’s money.
In fact, the majority of project managers will consistently seek to save and provide value for money throughout the delivery of a project. 90% of unmanaged building projects in the UK overspend by an average of 20% – that’s the equivalent to adding £30,000 of extra costs on to a £150,000 refurbishment or extension.
Too many people rush into projects without being clear about what they want, establishing the scope of works, and making an actual cost-to-budget consideration. This subsequently clouds timescales, affects working relationships and results in unrealistic expectations for their project.
A project manager will guide you through the process and ensure you get what you pay for in terms of quality and budget, and will offer practical solutions, advice and support throughout a project.
Project managers keep the pressure on schedules and timetables. They are completely on your side and work with you should challenges arise with the design and build phase.
In addition to the inherently practical and financial reasons for taking on a project manager, there are many personal ones too. When people factor in their levels of time and energy, plus their lifestyle, family or other commitments, engaging a professional project manager can make even more sense versus tackling this themselves.
Typically project managers are appointed at varying stages.
- Pre-construction stage. The point where design and scope of works, sustainability, review, construction, contractors, waste, budget and schedules all need to be pulled together.
- After the pre-construction stage. This is usually on projects with a continuous schedule of design and build, conversion, fit-out and refurbishment. Often this is where a client is updating an existing property, main household, second home, residential or commercial property for rental purposes, or updating an office, restaurant or shop.
- Ad-hoc. Typically this will be where a project has gone wrong. At AssetSphere we have a can-do attitude toward troubleshooting and damage control. A common reaction when things go awry during project is to throw more money and resources at it in the hope it will recover itself, but a project manager can help bring matters under control more efficiently and effectively.