Building a New Home? Here’s How to Prevent Scope Creep
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If you ask ten project managers from any industry what their top frustrations are about the job, and nine times out of ten the answer will be “scope creep.” This term describes the phenomenon of a project’s scope slowly increasing or “creeping” past its original bounds. Numerous issues can cause scope creep, but this issue typically arises when the team responsible for the project discovers additional important details they must address after work on the project has already begun.
If you are seriously considering building a new custom home or have already committed to a homebuilding project, it’s essential to define the full scope of your project before work begins. Scope creep can frustrate the team working on any type of project, but, when this issue appears in a home building project, the results can be frustrating, time-consuming, and expensive.
Make Expectations Clear, and Put Them in Writing
A good rule of thumb with any homebuilding project is to never begin work without a written contract in place. A clearly defined contract not only helps prevent scope creep but also ensures all stakeholders know their rights, responsibilities, and contractual obligations before any work begins.
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Ensure the contract covers everything from deliverables to deadlines and procurement expectations. All stakeholders should know what to do when the unexpected arises and have a plan of action for each piece of the project.
Keep Communication a Top Priority
Scope creep can appear when a project member makes a mistake and the rest of the team needs to slow down and retarget to fix the issue before the project continues. Communication is key to preventing these hiccups, so have all team members provide updates as work progresses. Try to schedule regular check-up calls at least once a week so everyone is consistently on the same page and errors are caught as soon as possible.
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Work from a Developed Construction Plan
Once you have selected your contractor and have a firm vision for the home you want to build, don’t order a single dollar worth of supplies or start any type of work until you have a well-developed construction plan ready to go.
Your custom home builder should be able to help you decide between different details and hammer out the kinks of your original design idea. Ultimately, working from a detailed and thoroughly developed construction plan will help the entire project stay on track.
Any type of homebuilding project can quickly escalate without the right contractor, and scope creep can become a time-consuming and expensive issue faster than you might expect.
Premier Builders has extensive experience with custom home projects and can assist you with all aspects of construction plan development and provide you with a thoroughly detailed contract before work begins. Contact Premier Builders today to learn more about our process and our experience.
