One of the aspects of small construction projects that often gets ignored is coordination. On the larger projects there are people who stay with the project from cradle to grave. Some of these people make careers out of coordinating these projects. This is, believe me, a valuable service. Construction projects are complex, and increasingly so every year as the regulations of jurisdictions and the building codes become more obtrusive.
There was a time when you would work with a master builder to create your project. You would give him your ideas and money, and he would give you a building. The relationship was owner and builder with a single point of contact on either side. Simple, smooth and very limited opportunities for mis-communication. In the modern world we are much more specialized. From the designer to the plumber to the electrical inspector, we are each taking up a smaller piece of the overall picture. Even us in the professions cannot always see the full picture. And then there is the owner, all by his or herself with this labyrinth of methods and procedures, much of it hidden from view. Even experienced owner's can run into road blocks that are difficult to work through.
This is where the project manager comes in. This person for a relatively small fee manages all of the aspects of the project in a timely manner and insures that all of the coordination has been done correctly. The clever project manager usually saves the owner more money than he makes in fees. But his value is far greater than that, a good project manager gives you piece of mind. His knowledge and experience can take away the owner's day to day stress that can be associated with a project. He illuminates the dark corners of the construction process and shows you the fastest cheapest way through the maze.
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