self build - project management?

harryhound

Bungarm2001 wrote: »

Like doozergirl...we are small(ish)time property developers/investors and over the 11 years or so we've been doing it, we have never really planned everything from the start, mainly because we've found that things never (ever ever) go to plan, and flexibility in all things is the keyword.
Good luck with it all..it sounds really exciting...!

I would endorse this comment. I had a scrap book full of small ads from the local papers. Left over building materials are a bit bulky to be taken to a boot sale;)

The high tech stuff is all very well and of the tripod of "specification-cost-time" it does help with bringing it in on time (or having the excuses ready in advance).
Beware of the computer stuff becoming a substitute for reality - remember the commentator looking at the screen during the take-off of the shuttle that failed: "We have a mal-function.........."
Hell is other people and you labour probably will not have heard of Mr Gantt. They will drive you round the bend . Murphy's law is much more important, so plan accordingly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gantt_chart

Time is critical if you are borrowed up to the eyeballs and living off site and building to sell. If you have a caravan in the garden (or built and fitted out the double garage first;)) then it is not so important. Good hard standing and somewhere large in the dry is useful. Then every week you get nearer your objective. What is more you have the luxury of the services already laid on, so no need for camping holidays with their primitive plumbing for you:rolleyes:

I saw a documentary about this bloke. It showed the note books in which he made up a lot of it as he went along. St Paul's had stood the test of time, complete with its fake dome.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Wren

Harry.

PS do we get invited to the house warming party?
(That is a handy tip created by Peter Mayle, when he invested his profits from the "Wicked Willie" books into "A year in Provence")