Planning
There are many variables involved in building your home. Good up front planning saves time and money and helps you to stay in control of your project.

Construction is largely a sequential process. This means that resources need to be available on a timely basis. When building components are not available at the jobsite it will cause a ripple effect. Trades that are scheduled for jobs will be delayed and the building completion timeline is subsequently affected. It is often difficult to reschedule trades as there is a labor shortage in most regions.

Changes to the design once the project has been started can be a major cause of increased costs and time delays. On site changes that may seem simple can result in structural design issues and additional construction resources.

The key is to planning ahead is to use a reliable system that includes all the variables in the building process. This enables you to monitor performance against your budget on a timely basis and make decisions that minimize risk.

Things to keep in mind during the planning stage:

• Determine factors that affect the ability to build in your area such as weather, zoning, services, permit & approval requirements
• Get blueprints and material specifications finalized
• Apply for permits as soon as blueprints are available
• Ensure resources such as builders, trades and materials are available when needed
• Get foundations in place as soon as possible to be construction ready
• Make sure you understand how to control the building process before you start