The first detailed no-nonsense handbook to planning, designing, and managing any home remodeling project. In 1989, homeowners spent over $100 billion on home remodeling alone. Yet overseeing these projects is complicated and time-consuming. This workbook allows readers to take charge of any remodeling project: it explains how to develop a budget, keep track of expenses, check community building regulations, and much more.

Residential Construction Management will provide construction managers a concise and practical guide to managing residential construction projects. One of the fundamental reasons residential contractors fail to prosper is that they are poor managers. By presenting project management tools in their appropriate context of the project lifecycle—initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and closing, readers will more clearly understand the iterative nature of construction management, which is a key to successfully managing a construction project. You can't afford to be without this indispensible working tool and its step-by-step instructions, project management templates, and real-world case studies. Residential Construction Management provides construction managers a concise and practical guide to managing residential construction projects. One of the fundamental reasons residential contractors fail to prosper is that they are poor managers. By presenting project management tools in their appropriate context of the project lifecycle — initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and closing — you will more clearly understand the true nature of construction management, which is a key to successfully managing a construction project. You can't afford to be without this indispensible working tool and its step-by-step instructions, project management templates, and real world case studies.Key Features ¦ Walks you through the entire project management lifecycle resulting in a better understanding of the iterative processes of construction management ¦ Offers the information and real world tools needed to successfully apply to a planned or current project ¦ Shows how various knowledge areas and project management tools interact when doing a project providing you with the knowledge to create your own project plan ¦ Offers a downloadable building specification form, change order authorization form, construction schedule, sample budget, construction flowchart, a guide to working with bankers for spec home loans, and much more — available from the Web Added Value™ Download Resource Center at www.jrosspub.com

Major home remodeling isn’t for the faint of heart; there is huge potential for design problems, cost overruns, or just unsatisfactory workmanship. Here, a professional construction manager who masterminded the redesign at New York’s famed Avery Fisher Hall as well as a massive institute-wide renovation of St. Luke’s Hospital, offers an indispensable guide for homeowners who need to manage a large-scale renovation. There’s advice on how to articulate your thoughts clearly to designers, architects, and contractors; tips on negotiating contracts; suggestions for protecting yourself from legal and financial threats; and help understanding warranty claims. Each step--from initial planning through the completed project--is covered in layman’s terms, and sample contracts, floor plans, cost estimating worksheets and other forms are provided.

The Pat Fay Method of Home Construction is a Construction Management Book written for the homeowner. Home Construction is far too expensive and the Pat Fay Method teaches the homeowner how to build or remodel for $100/SF or less without a General Contractor. The homeowner does not need to be an expert in construction to be successful in their home remodel or new construction; they do need to be efficient managers who follow The Pat Fay Method. This book has chapters on Planning and Preliminary Design, Construction Meetings, Final Design, Scheduling, Permitting, Insurance, Project Safety, Contract Documents, Change Orders, The Contractor, Using Competition to drive down costs, Construction Materials, The Construction Phase, Cost Estimating, and Construction Management forms. This book was written as a result of the experiences the author (a mechanical engineer with over 20 years of industrial and commercial construction management experience) had while managing the construction of his new home in Seattle. He found that the rules of the industrial construction world do not apply to the world of home construction. The author and his wife successfully managed all the phases of construction and had a 3,500 SF house built by 30 different contractors for only $65/SF. This accomplishment can be duplicated by any homeowner but only if they follow the Pat Fay Method. If the homeowner turns over their home construction project to a General Contractor then the cost will be far too high. One of the problems for homeowners is that they only do one or two major remodels or construction projects in a lifetime. The typical homeowner is just not prepared to handle the issues inherent to working with home construction contractors without this book. For example, can you answer these simple but consequently expensive questions: what is your construction theme, how do you write a simple scope of work, how do you find good contractors, how do you handle unexpected change orders, how do you ensure quality materials are used on your project, how do you pay the contractor, how do you get your lien release, and how will the homeowner resolve a dispute with their contractor? If you cannot answer these simple questions then you need this book.

This uniquely practical guide will help guarantee that the home you build, buy, or renovate will perfectly suit your needs, desires, and lifestyle.