Things that Matter Most While Selecting Building Materials

When you set out to start a construction project, it is the material that you are using is perhaps the most important element. With the advancement of technology, a wide variety of building materials are available in the market. According to the building and construction management professionals, it can be complex to identify the most suitable material for your construction project.

Longevity or price?

Whether you would like to go for the materials that last long but come with a hefty price or relatively cheap materials that you can afford easily but will not last long, the decision is yours. People who are involved with the project management in building construction suggest that, if you want to build a home where you would like to stay for the rest of your life, using top-notch materials are the best option as it may prove financially beneficial in terms of investment. The maintenance cost of your home will reduce a great deal. If you have a plan to relocate somewhere else in future, then you don’t need to spend high on the home your building for living temporarily. Picking what you want starts with knowing what you need.

Choose materials according to the weather conditions-

In a country like Australia, the selection of building materials should be adjustable with weather conditions. Do keep in mind that weather, location, and temperature of a certain place are the key components that affect a house significantly. The construction materials should be different for the houses that are located in the hot and dry areas, whereas the choice of material should be different for the cold and moist areas. For guidance, it is better to consult with the professionals of building and construction management companies.

Energy efficiency and environmental concerns-

Over the last few years, a remarkable change noticed among the Australians. They become more and conscious about the environment and showing extreme preference in building houses using green building materials that are composed of renewable resources. Green materials are environmentally responsible as the impact over the life of the product is considered. Houses built with these sort of materials are not only good for our environment but are also highly energy efficient.

When selecting building materials, it is important to consider construction materials that are readily and easily maintained. Generally, elements with higher maintenance requirements are likely to have lower initial costs but they may also have higher whole-life and environmental costs.

Pumped Hydro is Australia’s Giant Stride Towards Renewable Energy

Giving extreme preference to pumped hydro is thought to be Australia’s giant strides towards renewable energy. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency has told Malcolm Turnbull, pumped hydro could be the key to unlocking "cost-effective large-scale energy storage that can stabilize high levels of renewable energy in the national electricity grid", such as in South Australia.

How Pumped Hydro Works-

The pumped hydro functions by pumping water uphill between two connected reservoirs when power is plentiful, and dispatching power to the grid when demand is high or when wind and solar do not work. Pumped hydro is also widespread in Europe, especially in the alpine parts of Italy, Germany and France, and in Scandinavian countries like Norway. It is also widely used in Japan and the United States.

Pumped Hydro in Australia-

Pumped hydro is not something entirely new to Australia, the issue is there was no major development in it for the past two to three decades. Now the Australian government is galvanizing it to make some positives in the field of renewable energy. A joint Arena-Australian National University study has listed thousands of sites where other pumped hydro storage projects could be built, with a total capacity of a massive 67,000 gigawatt hours. The potential sites that are identified for pumped hydro are:

• South Australia's Spencer Gulf
• Valleys of the Hunter
• Illawarra
• Lower Blue Mountains regions of NSW

"Pumped hydro is the only mature, bankable technology that is readily available at scale," ARENA chief Ivor Frischknecht said. ARENA is itself already funding feasibility studies into pumped hydro storage in Tasmania, and in the Upper Spencer Gulf in South Australia and Kidston in north Queensland.

Benefit-

The Pumped hydro facilities will contribute to the stability of the electricity grid by combining renewable energy generation with large-scale energy storage capability. It is also expected to help meet the growing demand for electricity at peak times as well as help alleviate the state’s peak power prices.

Fantastic Color Trends for Residential & Commercial Buildings

Colors are undoubtedly the most influential factor when it comes to purchase a residential or commercial building. It is the color that creates the mood, feeling and desire. Studies have found that colors play a huge part to add aesthetic value to a building. In many cases buyers make a purchasing decision solely because of the appearance of the building and the location comes second.
According to the property experts, there is a growing consciousness noted among the people about the color of the place they are living. Along with the interior color of their house the exterior color also playing a crucial role in shaping their decision.

A Sydney-based property developer shared a funny incident regarding the color of a building where one of his clients simply refused to buy a residential apartment because its color was blue. On asking the reason the client said he is an avid Manchester United (a football club in England) fan and the color of their jersey is red while their main rival Chelsea F.C jersey color is blue. And he can’t live in an apartment that color is blue. The incident may seem funny, but it has enormous significance in terms of judging the factors that influence the purchasing decision of the people by solely judging a property by its color.

Recent color trends for residential and commercial spaces-

• Colors that spanned 16th- and 17th-century Europe are now being represented in new ways in this year and this color trend is likely to continue in 2018 . Deep reds, rich greens, subtle pale blues, and bright golds are getting extremely popular especially for residential building.
• 2017 is the year of Greenery, a yellow-green shade that takes its cue from the environment is mostly preferred by the people for their office building. Other hot colors include earthy shades like Hazelnut, a warm nude, in addition to splashy shades like Lapis Blue, a vivid jewel tone and Flame, a fiery orange. These colors for office apartment generate a sense that the company is conscious to environment. 2018 color trend will remain same with the strong possobility of color blue will take the center stage and more attention.
• Navy blue, this classic shade has reached neutral status for 2017. Navy blue cabinets, islands, and counters feel fresh and moderns in kitchens, particularly when paired with crisp whites and warm accents such as reclaimed wood and copper or satin brass.
• As 2017 continues to advance towards its end, a number of commercial buildings are beginning to choose bolder and more eye-catching color options for facades and more. Bright, colorful installations highlight your exterior facades and give guests something interesting to view as they approach and enter the building.

Colors and finishes selected for building materials for residential or commercial projects can change time to time. The color trend set in 2017 will likely to continue for the coming five years.

An Exact Overview of Australia’s Current Property & Construction Sector

Activity levels across Australia's construction sector have never been stronger before. The latest industry forecasts released by the Australian Construction Industry Forum (ACIF), the demand in the sector of residential building and construction development (mining-related construction, roads, rail and other large infrastructure) boom have pushed the growth beyond expectation.

According to the Ai Group head of policy Peter Burn, “September saw a continuation of the healthy levels of overall construction activity that have prevailed for most of the year to date.”

The commercial and industrial building will be driven by Sydney and Melbourne offices plus some further hotels building, now switching from servicing business travel to the tourist areas. Changes come through slowly but inexorably, like a slow train wreck. Sky-high Sydney prices flatlined this winter, inching up just 0.3 per cent over the past three months and holding steady during August, according to the CoreLogic home value index.

Sydney and Melbourne recorded the strongest property performance in 2017. This trend is likely to continue in 2018 but notably with some improvement in Brisbane and stability in Perth. The impact of lower interest rates has been directly felt in the retail and residential property sectors, while further downstream benefitting office and industrial. The lower AUD will increasingly factor into investment and consumption decisions, improving the economy at a broad level.

The property market in Australia has boomed and the most recent government data marked growth in residential property prices at 10.2 percent year on year for the 2017 March quarter. In a note, UBS Economist George Tharenou said any rash interest rate action from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) could trigger a crash. But its possibilities are less and investors don’t need to worry too much.

Australian property and construction market are likely to remain stable and perfectly steady. You can be sure that your investment will reap high value in the coming future.

What are the Specialized Project Management Techniques

Construction industries throughout the world are challenged to improve performance if they are to contribute fully to the achievement of economic prosperity, sustainable environment and healthy fulfilled populations. Construction management is the study of:

• How projects are conceived, designed, and built
• The types of materials and methods used
• Techniques for estimating the cost of construction
• Design and contract law construction accounting
• Oral and written communications
• Safety requirements
• Project planning and project management

Construction Management, or CM, is a service that uses specialized, project management techniques to manage the planning, design, and construction of a project, from its beginning to its end. The purpose of building and construction management is to control a project's time, cost and quality. A construction manager plays an important role in ensuring that construction projects go smoothly from start to finish.

Construction managers often deal with all aspects of the construction of a building. They may need to deal with the investors who are behind the project, as well as the construction workers who are actually being paid for the physical construction of the building. It makes it really important for the project managers to properly understand the regulations that impact the industry.

Specifically, project management in construction encompasses a set of objectives which may be accomplished by implementing a series of operations subject to resource constraints. There are potential conflicts between the stated objectives with regard to scope, cost, time and quality, and the constraints imposed on human material and financial resources.

Building and construction managers are generally appointed early in the construction process to share their valuable industry knowledge and bring in a uniformity to the entire project. Construction managers are hired to lead and oversee a variety of building projects including the building of all types of residential, commercial, and industrial structures, roads, bridges, power plants, schools, and hospitals. They oversee specialized contractors and other personnel. They schedule and coordinate all design and construction processes to ensure a productive and safe work environment.
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Different Types of Residential Building Options Available in the Market

When deciding on the type of home you’d like to purchase, there are several types of residential buildings to choose from. In the view of the project manager for residential construction, your purchase should be based according to your lifestyle, budget and requirements. The choice of a particular type of housing is dependent on locally available materials, skills and levels of technology.

We are providing you a handy guide to some of the residential buildings you can opt for.

Single-Family Home-
Single family homes are homes built on a single lot, with no shared walls. Sometimes there’s a garage, attached or detached. A single family detached home has open space on all four sides and is not attached to any other structure. These type of homes are separated from other structures with walls that are extended from the ground to the roof. Single-family homes tend to offer more privacy and space than other types of homes, and frequently come with private front and back yards.



Condominium or condos-
A condominium is one of a group of housing units where each homeowner owns their individual unit space, and all the dwellings share ownership of areas of common use. What all condos have in common is that they share common areas—such as yards, garages or gyms—with other units that the condo owners don't have to maintain themselves, making home upkeep that much easier.


Townhouse-
A townhouse is usually a part of a community association, each person has his own separate living space. Townhomes usually have multiple floors—sometimes as many as three or four in one unit for one common family. Some townhomes are attached to twin units, but each owner still has exclusive access to all the floors in his own home. Unlike duplexes or fourplexes, however, each townhouse is individually owned. The primary difference between townhouses and row houses is in how they’re arranged.

Current global trends indicate that the newer construction of world housing is being dominated primarily by two types of construction, masonry houses and reinforced concrete buildings.

Benefits that can be Acquired Through a Well Executed Project Audit

A project audit acts as a quality assurance instrument. It scrutinizes the project life cycle system by evaluating the deliverables produced during various phases of the project from the design phase all the way to the implementation phase.

Project audit thoroughly analyzes all the data of a particular project and try to identify  existing or probable impediments/issues regarding the project. All over Australia, project audit and compliance are the things that are taken very seriously in all the construction related and other important projects.

One of the finest things about project audit is that it instantly gives a warning alarm when a project that was seemingly progressing normally and was considered to be OK, is not doing well in reality. The organization can take a prompt decision either to cancel the project, to change the project manager, or to increase the funds.


 

There are multiple benefits that can be acquired through a well executed project audit-

The first and the most significant benefit is the ability to identify problems early on
Reduce waste in terms of time, effort, material and costs
Boost overall project performance
Access to performance/ project costs/ project timeline interrelationships
Informed appraisals for the project team
Ability to identify possible opportunities
Project audits help identify business risks that may involve budget, time, scope and quality
Evaluate the feasibility of the project in terms of affordability and returns

Project management companies in Sydney can play a significant role in helping an organisation achieve its strategic objectives in relation to project management. While a project manager who is skillful, conscientious, honest and on top of his job may learn nothing new from audits, audits nevertheless reduce doubts in the minds of others about project status. For the project, the audit helps guarantee continued success if everything is on track and an opportunity to put things in order if they are not.

Selection Criteria of a Project Management Firm

Picking a reliable and trustworthy project management company is one of the most important decisions construction firms need to take. The successful completion of a construction project largely depends on the efficiency and skill that project managers bring on the board. In the project management sector of Australia, various types of people, agencies and officials are involved with a construction project. This makes it crucial that a project manager must have required knowledge, talent and expertise to maintain a sound coordination with all of them.

Below, we’ve highlighted the basic project manager selection strategy that construction firms and builders can use as a guideline.

Interview the project manager -
Interview is a tried and tested method of selecting a project manager. Engage the higher officials of your company to take the interview of the project manager. Face to face to interaction is perhaps the best way to identify the capability of a person. Although the project management companies in Sydney are renowned for having some of the qualified individuals in their firm, still it is a good idea to judge the capabilities of the person through an interview.

Engage a project management firm with right skills-
The first layer of screening a project management firm for a project should be based on their professional skill. The firm should have the experience of working on various types of projects. Whether it is a commercial building or a residential building, the firm must have considerable amount of success under their belt of successfully completing them. Working on all sort of industry verticals would be an added advantage for any management firm and should be the prime selection criteria for the construction companies.

Capable of using all the latest project management tools-
The sign of a top-notch project management company is that it is well-aware of using the latest project management tools. Gone are the days when you can follow the traditional management approach for the success of a construction project. Before hiring a company, you must check how updated the project management firm is, how capable their managers are in using the sophisticated project management tools and software. Remember, only an updated project management firm can give you the best result.

Selecting an appropriate project management firm is a tough task for most of the companies. There are so many aspects you need to keep in mind while selecting them. Our suggestion would be that your selection process should be based on the research you have conducted and real[ quality they possess. 

Trends that are Heavily Influencing Project Management Industry

It has been noted that the trends in the project management sector are evolving at a rapid pace. The use of new methodologies has significantly influenced the project management industry. For the market experts, this change is quite eminent as the expectations of the clients/stakeholders/investors have undergone a paradigm shift.

Here we are highlighting some of the project management trends worth watching out for.

Excessive Use of the Collaboration Tools

With the advancement of the technology and the business model, the use of outdated tools will be eliminated and they are quickly replaced with the most sophisticated collaboration applications. The use of more and more sophisticated tools will be an integral part of the entire project management service. It is hardly a surprise that providers for project management services are heavily using collaboration software apps such as Yammer, Workfront, Podio, Quip, Slack, Jive and more. The use of this sophisticated apps will bring in precision and accuracy in the project.

Risk Management

Earlier it was risk management that was the most neglected part of a construction development project. But the concept of putting greater emphasis on the risk management has become the most crucial nowadays. Analysing the risk factors in a proper way can be really helpful in order to manage unanticipated incidents occurred during the project rather than reacting to them.

Use of Project Portfolio Management (PPM)

Successful project implementation requires to comprehensively follow centralized and efficient project portfolio management (PPM) rules. The adoption of PPM model has gained momentum over the past few years among the reputed project management consultants in Sydney. The sound implementation of the PPM concept can largely improve bottom-line results and the success rates of the ongoing project. It has become unthinkable to conceive a construction project without having a well-prepared project portfolio management solutions.

With the passage of time, unique business trends will emerge and gain acceptability in the project management industry. The challenge is that you need to hire a project management firm that has the ample knowledge of following all the latest project management trends.

3 Important Tips that Construction Managers Must Follow

Managing a construction work is a challenging task. Construction managers need to organize their staff, get the work running smoothly and maintain strict deadline to get the job finished on time. The new trends in the construction management sector make it necessary for construction managers to have diverse skill on efficiently utilizing material, labor and equipment.

Important Tips Construction Managers Should Follow

Know the Codes- To have an ample amount of knowledge about the building and construction code about the construction area is an added advantage for construction managers. They need to seek advice from subject matter experts, lawyers and from their legal advisers about the construction related rules and regulations imposed by the government for building a project on a particular site. By knowing the rules and complying them properly could keep the construction project out of any legal harassment.

Properly Handle Construction Workers- It is the workers who play an important role to any construction project. So managing and handling them in an efficient way is crucial for the successful completion of the project. There are few procedures building and construction management companies can follow to get the best out of their workers.

• Show you have a good attitude towards them.
• Appreciate their work and create an employee rewards system for showcasing the talents of construction workers.
• Make themselves aware of the health and safety risks in the construction site.
• Obtain feedback from construction workers about design elements and structural components.
• Arrange leadership and supervisor training for construction workers.

Monitor Everything Closely- Construction and project managers have to be on their toes every time. They simply can’t sit back and relax just because everything has been arranged properly. Project managers need to keep a close eye on every development taking place in the project. Once the work has begun, follow along with everyone's progress, provide assistance when required and keep close coordination with everyone involved in the project.

Project managers have impacted positively on the construction project. They comprehensively assess all the risk factors and play a pivotal part for the success of a project. That's why it is important to hire them for any building and construction projects.

Why Sydney is the Ideal Place for Investing in Property

Investing in the booming property development market of New South Wales is an amazing way to significantly increase your personal wealth in a relatively short period of time. Becoming a property developer you can acquire valuable properties at the right price. As per the property development consultants in Sydney, you can enhance your property portfolio rapidly without much financial risk.

In comparison to other rapidly developing cities around the world, Sydney is way ahead. If you go through the chart you can easily find out the reasons why it is a clever decision to make an investment here. Brisbane is topping the chart but the market over there is more volatile, whereas, in Sydney, you can expect a long-term stability.

Comparing to an average investor, when you put money on property you get a greater return on your investment. But at the very beginning you need to understand what property development exactly is.

What is Property Development?

From purchasing the land to development of facilities and buildings to meet customers' requirements, a wide range of activities comes under the term property development. Different types of buildings are developed by property developers that include-

• Distribution centres
• Business parks
• Warehouses
• Office buildings
• Parks
• Residential complex
• Commercial establishments

Why Invest in the Property Market of Sydney?

All over Australia, it is Sydney that is considered to be the finest place for property investment. Sydney real estate is chugging along nicely in some regions with buyers vastly outnumbering sellers. The professionals of project management in Sydney, recommend the investors to remain optimistic about the huge potential of high return from investing in property here.

• For the last few decades, the rapid rise in the population is noticed in Sydney. It makes it quite obvious that buying a property here will likely to provide you a huge return.
• It has been noted that lower-priced areas in Sydney are also expected to go through a revival. And it is suggested that this growth trend is likely to continue steadily for a long time.
• Property development consultants are expecting to witness a period of stable to mildly increasing prices for the Sydney investment property market with particular pockets with large growth possibilities.

The gains can be great but the investors need to make a precise decision before taking an investment decision. Aspects such as type of property, location, the amount of investment and expected returns should be concerned thoroughly.

The Promising Future of Building & Construction Sector of Sydney

Massive building projects are running all over Sydney and many more projects are in the pipeline. It is Western Sydney that is considered to be the fastest-growing regions in the state. This part is playing an instrumental part in the rapid growth of Australian economy. Residential, commercial and retail construction in New South Wales is experiencing a mammoth growth because of the Government's spending program that is expected to exceed $73 billion by 2020.

Truly it is an astonishing figure that will attract more and more foreign investors in this region. In terms of delivering, financing and developing infrastructure, private players are playing a major role. It is mainly the Chinese and European companies that are heavily involved in investing a huge amount of money on various development projects in Australia. The data supplied by the organization of building and construction management in Sydney is pointing some of the major development projects that are currently taking place in New South Wales.

• North West Rail Link.
• WestConnex (motorway and urban renewal).
• Sydney International Convention and Exhibition Centre.
• NorthConnex motorway.
• Sydney CBD and South East Light Rail.

New South Wales is gradually turning out to be a decadent destination for public-private partnerships (PPPs). The Australian government is encouraging private companies whether Australian or from overseas to get involved in a promising PPPs. The benefits of this model are two-fold, first, government don’t have to invest a large amount of money at the very beginning, second private companies can reap the benefits of sharing profits from a reliable partner that is the Australian government.

In the view of the market experts, this should be the road map every country should follow for the 360-degree development. The forecast for commercial and residential building activity is solid. The primary reason behind this prediction is the enhanced population growth, growing business activities, easier approval process and relatively low interest rates.

How Project Management Professionals Add Value to a Construction Project

The providers of project management services contribute immensely to ensure the success of a diverse range of projects across all industries. By minimizing the risk of a project they ensure it is completed successfully within the budget. Project management companies have unrivalled global network and extensive expertise. Construction projects require swift resolution of numerous challenges and consultants for building and construction management coordinate and manage every step of your project.

From procurement to review, from verification to construction supervision, specialized teams project managers help you in the every step in developing a construction project.

These are the basic services project management companies offer:

• Construction management: Full fledged service on construction related projects. Whether it is commercial or residential, project managers can positively contribute to successfully complete the project.
• Comply with regulatory and quality standards: Any sort of building or construction related projects need to comply with the regulatory and quality standards that are maintained by the project managers.
• Inspections: The overall development of the along with proper solving of any construction related issues has been solved and the construction area is properly inspected time in and time out by the project management professionals.
• Property development: Along with builders and investors, project management companies could help various property development projects.
• Time and cost control: The biggest benefits of hiring project management professionals is that investors and owners could be assured that their project will be completed on time and within the stipulated budget.
• Design management: Expert project managers could also offer top-notch design management services.
• Procurement/purchasing: Project management professionals take care of each and every purchasing task taking place in the project. They maintain every detail of even the smallest of expenses and always try to make sure the cost of the project never goes out of the budget.

Project management professionals see each project as a unique endeavour. That's why the promoters of many construction projects entrust the management of their projects to a highly-skilled and experienced organisation.

The Growing Prominence of Sydney as a Global Construction Capital

Market experts have noticed that among all other cities in Australia, it is Sydney that has a strong pipeline of future projects along with a huge portfolio of infrastructure assets. Building and construction related projects in Sydney are experiencing massive growth and the trend will sustain for a long period of time. Sydney, the economic center of Australia and the capital of New South Wales, is an attractive place to invest especially in the property and the construction sector.

Sydney, A Global Capital

Sydney is the gateway to Asia. It is considered to be the most prestigious global city and the prime destination for business, tourism, investment and education. More than ninety percent of international banks have their presence and headquarters in this city. As a developed modern economy, Sydney has emerged as a world-class centre for knowledge-based businesses. Sydney is both multicentric and sprawling.

Construction and Building Environment in Sydney

The city has experienced a hefty growth in commercial as well as residential property projects. A strong and stable market is predicted ahead with many more projects also in the pipeline.

How Good Project Management Skill is Influencing Sydney’s Booming Construction Sector

The presence of some of the top-class building and construction project management companies in Sydney has a positive impact on the overall growth of this city. Construction projects are going on all around the city and the project managers with their superior efficiency greatly help to successfully complete those projects. Form behind the curtain these project management professionals and companies greatly contributing the prosperity of this city. It takes time and effort to proactively manage a project, and project managers exactly do that. Their effort makes it possible to complete a construction and building project more quickly without getting over budget.

Stakeholders all over the globe could rely on the managerial skills of the project management consultants in Sydney. Skilled project managers are invaluable to businesses and fulfil an increasingly important role in countless companies.

Various Projects Developed by the Property Developers

There are range of activities related with property development. From the purchase of land to building a construction, developing plans to maintain all the codes and conducts, all the important things come into the array of property development. Developers coordinate and monitor the activities converting requirements, plans and ideas into property.

Property developers can come up with brilliant ideas when developing properties for various projects such as:

Industrial Property Development- Industrial development is a cornerstone to economic development of any country. The entire industrial property development starts with the complete understanding of the exact requirements of the property market and the economic scenario of the particular country. Along with the professionals of project management services, property developers take up high-profile industrial development projects and complete them in a proper way.

Community Housing- Community housing is social and affordable housing delivered by housing cooperatives, housing associations, non-profit community organisations and local governments. The priorities of community housing are-

• Increase housing affordability
• Reducing homelessness
• Covering short, medium and long-term tenancies

Office and Business Parks- The goal of office and business parks is to provide customized space for diverse office and industrial tenants. With the globalization getting ever so accepted, businesses all over the world are setting up offices and business parks to other countries. Multiple benefits of business parks-

• Offers greater flexibility
• Packed with advanced technology and equipment
• Provide 24-hour security
• All amenities under one umbrella

Retail and Commercial Buildings- Commercial property is any non-residential property used for commercial profit-making purposes. One of the biggest benefits of retail and commercial building is that the assets are generally secured by leases and secure a steady income stream. According to the property and construction consultants, the developers give top priority in developing retail and commercial projects. The profit margins are generally high in this type of projects.

The best thing about commercial property developers is that they always try to form long term relationships and deliver solutions that meet the expectations of their clients.

New-Age Project Management Methodologies

If you want to make your construction project flow quicker with less hassle, there are different kinds of project management methodologies available. You can also benefit from collected wisdom and knowledge of the professional project managers. They can perform wide range of duties including managing budgets, coordinating with everyone involved with the project, maintaining data of goods and materials. Project managers also manage all stakeholders in the project, develop project plans and work in a wide variety of sectors.

Effective Project Management Methodologies

Traditional Project Management: The traditional project management uses conventional techniques and methods in the management process. It is a step-by-step sequence to develop design and deliver a product or service. In a traditional approach various tasks are assessed properly and provide a process to oversee and monitor the completion of those tasks. In the traditional project management techniques that are proven for decades are used, so the outcome can be accurately predicted. Companies that offer project management services use this technique for the smooth running of the project.

Waterfall Project Management: The waterfall method builds upon the framework of the traditional method. Waterfall project management handles things sequentially. Waterfall was based on the notion that everything happens in sequence. Project requirements are usually defined at the beginning and one phase of a project ends before another begins in a systematic way.

Agile Project Management: Agile project management is ideal for the projects where there is no requirement for extensive control over the deliverables. This process is highly adaptable to the changing situations of the project and offers useful suggestions for improvement. Flexibility and speed are the two basic features of the agile project management method.

Critical Chain / Path Project Management: This method is geared more towards solving resource problems. Through this process, interdependent tasks are easily managed. The primary goal of critical chain/path is to keep the load level equal for all resources. It is an ideal method for resource-heavy project.

Six Sigma Project Management: For the projects that can be measured precisely, the Six Sigma method is absolutely ideal. It is a data-driven project management method. Six Sigma is geared toward finding solution of the problems at root cause and preventing it from recurrence in the future of the projects. These objectives are achieved through profound knowledge of engineering, in-depth command over statistics and accurate project management skills.

Other Project Management Methods are:

• PRISM
• PRINCE2
• Kanban Technique
• Rational Unified Process
• Extreme
• Scrum
• Crystal
• Joint application development

Property development consultants all over the world use these project management methodologies to sharpen their skills and offer remarkable service to their clients.

Responsibilities Performed by the Project Managers in Construction

Construction and real estate industry play a crucial part in shaping the economic growth and prosperity of Australia. The construction industry is an important component of the Australian economy and employs a sizeable portion of the workforce. The real estate industry has a close relationship with other sectors as well. Beyond the direct contribution of construction activities, it also impacts GDP and economic development of the country.

Real estate sector is now getting more organized, and the application of well-thought project management planning have greatly helped to bring more transparency in the construction industry. Through the management skills and values at different levels, project managers significantly influence and effectively promote construction industry development.

Project management in construction involves multiple people, parties, procedures, processes and practices. Effective project management ensures that the development project is going on in accordance with quality and design requirements, completed on time, in compliance with relevant laws and regulations and within budget.

The responsibilities of a project manager includes:

• Planning authorities
• Solving designing issues
• Ensure the project is tracking along to plan
• Document management
• Procurement
• Knowledge of health and safety on site
• Selecting subcontractors and workers
• Completing the work within estimated budget and specified time
• Client handling
• Maintaining a reputation for high-quality workmanship
• Developing communication strategy for resolving conflicts

Construction project management is a complex field that requires vast knowledge in various areas such as mediation, finance, business, law and more. Construction management should always be taken seriously because it will save construction professionals a huge amount of time and money while still being able to yield profitable results. Employing effective construction project management solutions is vital to finish off a project successfully in a timely manner without any delay or disruptions.

Construction management is a relatively new field but most project owners are aware of the benefits of having an experienced construction manager working on their project.

Latest Trends in Property Development & Project Management in Australia

The property development market in Australia has performed remarkably well over the last couple of decades. The primary reason behind the surge of property development sector is the presence of some of the leading construction and property advisory firms who are offering exceptional service to their clients. Whether it is a roll out of multiple housing projects or commercial building, retail sites or residential buildings, property advisory firms deliver projects that perfectly reflect your vision.
In this blog we are providing some of the amazing development trends in different cities of Australia.

• New South Wales: The commercial and residential building market in NSW continues to ramp up. The combination of low interest rates along with the respectable level of population have significantly accelerate the property market in New South Wales. The total nonresidential and residential building projects have tripled in the last cycle. According to the professionals of property development project management services, there is a huge possibility the trend will continue to grow in the current cycle too.
• Victoria: It is the most happening place for investing in property sector. Because of its excellent weather, seamless transportation, and highest job rates, Victoria dominates the country’s construction and building industry. According to the government data, foreign buyers are showing immense interest in developing property in this gorgeous city. The population growth of Victoria is causing massive demand for general as well as civil construction services. You could easily engage top-notch property development companies to shape your construction project.
• Queensland: With some of the massive projects underway, the home and commercial market in Queensland are still very strong. Expectations in the surge of apartment building has peaked and will continue over the coming years. Some of the mid- tier and smaller building construction are likely to experience noticeable change and improvement in demand.
• South Australia: Having been through a previous lean patch, commercial building activity picked up in southern parts of Australia rapidly. Particularly it is the Asian buyers channeling capital into quality construction in this territory. South Australia is now providing some of the highest investment return figures in construction sector. There has also been a swathe of re-development projects not only in Southern Australia but also in the entire country.

Across commercial, civil and residential construction, companies of property development project management are delivering bespoke service to their clients and drawing huge attention from the international clientele also.

Hire a Project Management Company for Building Construction – Top 3 Reasons

Managing any type of project has always been stressful and challenging. And managing project for building construction is not an exception. In fact the professional project managers sometimes become stressed to manage a project efficiently. In order to manage a construction project, one requires knowledge of latest technology and management. It is also necessary to understand the construction process thoroughly.

Remember, project management is different from general management of corporations. This helps to achieve predetermined objectives of cost, scope, time, participation satisfaction and quality. There are a number of factors that should be followed during any project management. The factors include everything from finding the best quote to taking a vital management decision at the right time.
Below are discussed a few factors that should be followed to manage project efficiently in the building construction.

1. Skill is the first priority:

A successful project management in building construction needs a wide range of qualities as well as skills. As an efficient project manager, you should keep in mind that finishing a project on time and within budget is not sufficient, you have to maintain specific building regulations strictly. You should also have the skill of strong communication, since you have to take right decision at the right time. Apart from this, an efficient project management requires the efficiency of time management, knowledge of health and safety on the construction site, cost-control and experience of the building process.

2. Wise pre-planning:

In order to reduce unnecessary delays and cost, an expert project manager always plan, programme and design their project early. For example, at Signature Project Management, the expert project managers controls the cost management process and monitor it throughout the construction process.

3. Your Construction project will never get derailed:

An inefficient project management in the construction company can ruin the whole process and make it nothing but a mess. It includes missed deadlines, cost overruns and lack of planning. These may result a massive loss of critical business revenue. Above all, an un-efficient project management lose the trust of the shareholders and the customers. On the other hand, if your construction project is on the hands of an effective construction project management solutions, your construction projects will be completed in an organised and timely manner, and the projects will be ultimately successful. An efficient construction project management solution knows that poor project management leads to cost overruns and project delays, which ultimately affect to your your business.

You can comment us to let us know if the information is helpful for you or not. Remember, you should get your construction project management always on track. In order to do so, you can hire an efficient project management company for building construction.

Shou Sugi Ban- Popular Japanese Wood Charring Technique Providing Several Benefits

Shou Sugi Ban also known as Yakisugi is an old Japanese technique for exterior siding which preserves the wood by charring it with fire. Sugi in Japanese means wood and it is also known as the Japanese Cedar which his normally used during the charring process. There are 4 stages in the process:

• Charring the wood
• Cooling it
• Cleaning post charring
• Finishing it with natural oil.

In English, Shou Sugi Ban (Japanese Wood Charring Technique) is also known as carbonized wood. The charring is usually done on thin planks of wood which draws out the moisture from the wood by protecting it through the resultant chemical compound.

What are the Benefits of Shou Sugi Ban?

There are quite a few benefits of this charring technique. They are:

• Durability- A lightly charred wood is expected to remain for 80 years thus increasing the life expectancy of your home. However, you have to maintain it properly.
• Pest Resistant- Termites and other pests hate the taste of burnt wood thus making the property pest resistant for good reason. It will also contribute to enhanced living.
• Fire Resistant- Charring of a wood piece can provide it with flame retardant properties. Isn’t that great?!
• Aesthetics- Charring of wood can contribute to the aesthetics as well. You will derive a number of attractive colors depending on how much charring the wood has incurred. You can also brush deeply to further enhance or alter colors. It can also be stained so that you get more variety in design for the wood. There are some interesting designs that can be found on the wood due to the charring and staining.
• Water Resistant- The fact that the carbonized wood is treated with oil makes it water resistant. Moreover, treating the charred wood with oil has also made it mold resistant along with being water resistant.
• Life-cycle- Wood is a renewable resource and no amount of chemicals are needed to provide a finishing touch to it. Fossil fuels are also required for the burn process to complete. The increase in lifespan makes the sacrifice insignificant.
• All these above mentioned benefits make the practice of charring wood feasible and significant.

Maintaining Yakisugi

Maintaining Yakisugi is easy. If the original purpose of using it is to have it installed outside and exposed to weather, it should be oiled every 10-15 years. This is the standard treatment for wood exposed to outside weather. It does not take much to maintain charred wood. Oiling the wood will help maintain its color in the most natural and original form while also making it water-resistant for a prolonged period of time.
All this treatment is only for the wood that will be exposed to outside weather. If the wood has been installed only for interior purposes, then does not even require oiling for maintenance. If the charred wood is used for the purpose of making furniture, then the maintenance routine will be different, though not complicated at all. For instance, if it is used for the purpose of making a coffee table, then it can be maintained with the help of oil and sand. However, only a single coat of oil is necessary for the purpose.

Latest Approaches to Project Management across Construction Sector

As a matter of fact, the sector of building and construction has been highly lucrative since the bygone times. This industry is undeniably one of the most prospective precincts across the world of trade and commerce. In order to accommodate the ever increasing human population on earth, urbanization drive has to go on incessantly. In other words, this ensures the impressive commercial prospect of the construction industry. The corporate domain has, however, undergone drastic changes in the recent times.

As such, the corporate sector has turned unbelievably competitive these days. In this whirlwind of extreme business rivalry, it is obvious that the aspect of project management in construction has been thoroughly redefined. It is relevant to mention in this context that various adversities are bound to crop up in any construction job almost every now and then. One, of course, has to resolve these issues right on time to ensure the project gets finished successfully right on scheduled time. As a matter of fact, every construction project comes with an estimated cost and stipulated deadline.

It is crucial for all stakeholders to adhere to these figures otherwise, the project becomes too expensive. Earlier, project owners used to hire experienced professionals in the designation of project managers, who used to coordinate between all relevant entities to ensure timely and successful delivery of a project. However, this approach proved much expensive as the professionals quoted hefty price in exchange of their service.

Recent Industry Trends

In a recent development, exclusive construction management firms have gained prominence across the Australian construction sector. These companies are setting up and also following certain trends of project management in construction. Some of them are:

• Agile Gaining More Importance- The project management industry is gradually being familiar with Agile which is a software making project management easy for the managers. In construction industry it is being applied to workflows.
• Collaboration of Software- Collaboration software is the latest trend in the construction industry because dependence on solo software has already become obsolete. Users are however making adjustments to get used to the collaboration process.
• NPD PPM- New Product Development (NPD) and Project Portfolio Management (PPM) will just remain terms anymore. Industry experts opine that NPD, PPM and Agile are going to become integrated through the powerful Internet.
• EI Over Others- With passing time emotional intelligence will become the most desired skill for new project managers. As it deals with the emotional quotient of the employee, it is about to become essential within the industry.
• Certificates No Longer Required- Project management certificates are becoming obsolete and people with hands-on experience will be preferred to the certificate holding ones.

These latest approaches are here to benefit the industry and its practices. These trends will only continue to develop with time. 

Efficient Project Management in Construction Demands Using Suitable Tools

Construction is basically an on-site endeavor and ensuring all the right tools and supplies are present and reaching on time will not only make everything easy but also the result will be quicker and safer. A majority of construction work is done on field. Some amount of work is also done off-site but that is only a very less percentage. Off-site work does not really require so much tools and equipment. However, on-site must be done even if its is on mud or on the sand. When on the go, bringing the perfect tools to minimize work is essential. Project management in construction actually demands proper applicaton of tools.

 

Some of the Most Important and Handy Tools

 

Some of the most important tools used in the construction indsutry for such work include:

• Asphalt Equipment
• Brooms, Brushes and Sqeueegees
• Scaffolding
• Ladders+Stepstools
• Cement Mixers
• Caulk Guns
• Concrete Curing Blankets
• Compaction Equipment
• Concrete Saws
• Concrete Trowels and Screeds
• Concrete Grinders
• Concrete Vibrators
• Demolition Tools
• Curb Machinery
• Diamond Coring Rigs and Cores
• Hardware Kits
• Mortar Mixers
• Measuring Tools
• Painting
• Pipe Locators
• Road Magnets
• Rebar Cutters
• Rock Drills Tape and Adhesives
• Vacuums and Cleaning Machines
• Thermometer

 

All these tools and equipments are used in various capacities for the purpose of construction. These make easy, effective and accurate. These also shorten time and ensures that the project gets over on time and does not drag for days together. In fact, all these equipments are used in major projects by managers and workers and hence are carried in truck to the site where the construction work is going on.

 

The Software Tool

 

Management software is also an extremely useful tool for completing the work on time. Keeping track of all the stages during a construction project is a difficult task and that can be done with the help of a software which manages and keeps record of everything chronologically. Tracking progress and communicating with the team can be done effortlessly with the help of a particular software. In fact, finding out about the deviation degree is also done with the help of a software. Without a management software, the managers can never find out how much it deviated from the original plan.

 

Whether the project has gone over-budget should also be found with the help of an effective software. Keeping track of the assets and costs during and after the project is also done with the help of a management software and thus it has turned out to be an efficient tool for all. Software also helps in keeping everyone involved in the project be updated about recent changes so that no one loses track of the entire process. However, choosing the perfect software for a particular project is also as important as using it efficiently.

Project Manager Residential Construction Requires Wearing Multiple Hats

Project management can be done for residential purpose and commercial purpose. There are project managers looking after both these types of construction works. A project manager for residential construction requires educational credential that is different from the ones involved in commercial purpose. Though the difference is not much, still it is distinguishable.

Educational Credentials for Residential Project Management

Residential construction managers generally require a bachelor’s degree to become eligible for the post. Experienced candidates are given priority because he/she must work at the supervisory level. A manager has to manage the resources well and to do that some amount of experience is required. In fact, according to surveys, these posts are growing at a rapid pace and will reach a considerable amount by 2024.

Some Vital Information

Residential construction is an important part of construction project management. These managers are also known as construction superintendents and sometimes general contractors. These professionals are responsible for organizing budget and also supervise the construction of homes. The demand for commercial construction and residential construction vary to a large extent and the managers must acknowledge that difference. They usually come with a degree in engineering or construction (both are eligible) and come to know the difference during that stage itself. However, some learn it on work and get a degree in business for future prospect. An additional master’s degree is also helpful in this regard. Having experience is generally expected out of a construction manager.

Skills Required and Job Role of Construction Manager

Residential construction managers usually work from the office, but sometimes visit onsite as well. They have to visit the site frequently. Their job duty involves recruiting and managing employees, scheduling projects, supervising construction progress as well as securing permits and managing site budget. The managers also perform quality analysis of the work and finds out whether the project is deviating from its goal. They evaluate project safety and also ensure that contractors are paid on time.

Construction managers are expected to multi-task and hence be well-organized. He/she must be open to flexible timing and possess good communication skill. The manager is required talking honestly and clearly to the project owners. He/she has to shoulder responsibilities right from the conception time through the end. In fact, the budget at which the bidding will be done is also calculated by the manager. He is the boss onsite and the team must listen to him to work efficiently.

Obtaining the equipment like the bulldozers and other mechanicla instruments also depends on the project manager. If the project exceeds the cost, the owner and the client will seek explanation from the project manager only. They do not work with the materials but with the resources and see to it that the project gets completed on time and without much deviation. He serves a sthe olink between the workers and the owner and is thus the lifeline to complete a project and hand it over to the client. A PM is the almighty on site and off site during the runtime of the project.

Resolving Legal Issues in Building and Construction Management

There are various legal issues and problems in building and construction management at all the levels. Conflicts can arise at various levels of a project process and the team can get restless over that. Construction project managers are asked to resolve various kinds of disputes associated with the completion of the project. They are also responsible for identifying the issues as well as mitigating them by comprehending the legal ramifications.

How are Disputes Resolved?

Conflicts can arise at any level and and the project manager must handle it with all his might and skill. In order to keep the team productive, the manager controls the disputes and tries to solve them quickly. Potential conflicts could involve lack of clarity, limited resources, conflict of interest, power struggles and poor communication. While every issue is unique, there are certain common stratgies for resolution followed by all the project managers. Those strategies are:

• Mediation- This is a process in which a third party mediator is hired to resolve conflict between 2 parties. This strategy is less time consuming and also the cheapest. A negotiation specialist is required to resolve dispute and an experienced person creates a win-win situation for both the parties involved in the dispute.
• Mini-Trial- Mini-trial is held in an informal setting presided by an advisor or attorney. This attorney must be paid for this service. However, there is one problem with this arrangement; the agreement is non-binding and hence can be broken. It is more time consuming and expensive than a mediation or negotiation.
• Arbitration- The third and last process is that of arbitration. This is however, the most expensive and time-consuming strategy of resolving conflict. Each party is represented by an attorney along with witnesses and evidences. After hearing out both the sides, the arbitrator gives a ruling which is final and binding.

Devise a Risk Management Plan

Focus on the prevention is the mantra for solution. The managers who spend less time on spontaneous problems and more time on diminishing its impact, can actually control the problems and devise a fruitful risk management plan. This plan will help in managing the risks involved in the projects. It also helps in defining the role of project staff and recognize possible risks. The plan also lays out categories for problems and their impact on the project.

Comprehend the Legal Principles

Understanding of legal principles saves money as well as time. Project managers should know how to negotiate agreements, purchase insurance, deal with jurisdiction’s licensing needs and administer job site safety. There are patches of liability in construction management. For instance, the project could go overhead and the bid might exceed the estimates. Property development consultants will provide proper tips on how to solve issues with faulty workmanship. Normally, the policies do not even cover economic risks and hence the managers along with consultants should ensure the proper coverage that can avoid claims and liabilities.

Develop a Quality Control Plan

Developing a quality control plan ensures that the construction reaches a particular standard. Quality control is the last step during which the project is reviewed with the help of procedures and systems to maintain the highest standard. The consultants should also have knowledge regarding safety management codes, compliance codes, building codes and also incorporate these aspects within the plan.

All these steps are involved in the entire dispute resolution process which is managed by project managers with the help of property development consultants.

The Dos and Don’ts of Project Management Companies Regarding Project Completion

In this world of changing business environment, keeping up with the new or modified practices is important and necessary as well. To remain ahead of your competition and also to maintain quality in work, it is imperative to optimize the efficiency and productivity of your team. To achieve this, knowing the dos and don’ts of project management will help. The residential project management companies usually follow these to keep ahead of their competition. Usually a commercial construction is different from a residential construction; however, the basics are the same and hence the dos and don’ts are similar too.

The Dos to Follow

• Retain Contact with Stakeholders- Maintaining contact with stakeholders is of immense importance. Not informing them of the company’s condition is unprofessional and an error. Maintaining contact with them encourages good practice and also motivates and focuses people to work on the same line.
• Starting on a Positive Note- Each and every project should begin on a positive note and involve all the parties into it. A project launch is the best occasion to let every staff member know what is expected and how that expectation could be fulfilled.
• Vigilant Delegation of Responsibility- Each and every project involves a team and that leads to the success of a project. Therefore, identifying the skill set of each team member to assign work is necessary. Refraining from delegating task to incapable people also helps in optimizing the talent pool contributing to the success of the project.
• Challenge Existing Conditions- The 9-5 job style is not functional anymore. Always look out for new technologies and practices to optimize output and drive profits to the organization. Join a group and remain in the loop to kill competition.

The Don’ts to Avoid

• Be Conscious to Ask for Feedback- Never be afraid of asking for feedback from clients especially if it is your debut project. You can also seek feedback from your co-workers in order to improve on your personality, skills and your completed project. Be open to feedbacks.
• Depend Only on Email Communication- Do not depend only on emails as the chosen method of communication among members. This kind of communication however cannot replace a one-on-one face-face conversation. There is ample chance of being misinterpreted.
• Try to Satisfy Everyone- This is a trend in management hierarchy; however, a vicious trend. Pleasing everyone is unrealistic. You cannot get everyone to agree with you and hence quit it altogether.
• Creating Unrealistic Expectations from Positives- Being overly optimistic regarding a particular scenario can be a dampener for the project and your career. Always have a risk management plan in place by taking into account the negative side so that you can avoid downfall.

These dos and don’ts for building and construction management are essential for the completion of a project. Following these can take you places while avoiding these can cause downfall and bring failure. Being skilful in your job is essential along with possessing certain other qualities like assessing the project properly.