Multiple Jobs

Originally Posted by Zinsco

I run into general contractors who tell me what great schedulers they are. I laugh right in their face. A general contractor is no more in control of a job than a cowboy is in control of a bucking bronco. The GC should just hang on for the entire ride and hope he's alive at the end.

Originally Posted by joasis

I hate to be the one to break it to you, but only the weather can throw me a curve. In this day and age, you either watch it happen, or you make it happen. I make it happen.

Originally Posted by Zinsco

I run into general contractors who tell me what great schedulers they are. I laugh right in their face. A general contractor is no more in control of a job than a cowboy is in control of a bucking bronco. The GC should just hang on for the entire ride and hope he's alive at the end.

Originally Posted by Zinsco

There's always extras, changes, delays, unforeseen things... When you start a job and you have it all scheduled out on your computer, that is never the way it actually goes down.

Originally Posted by bconley

Yes this is all true but a schedule is always being updated and evolving, if you don't schedule, the subs will walk all over you and take as much time as you give them to complete their job, (which is forever if you don't have a schedule)

Originally Posted by Electrician

The faster I complete my work the faster I get paid the more jobs per year I do the more money I make. The only thing that slows me down are General Contractors. They have 100 ways to slow down my productivity.

Originally Posted by bconley

And they are your source of work, you do the math.

Originally Posted by bconley

No just the opposite if there is a schedule in place the job will be ready as scheduled.
The only way the job will be ready for you is through schedule.
What good would it do you if the GC didn't schedule?
When would you show up?
My earlier point was that schedules aren't perfect and evolve as the job progresses it just what happens.
But having any schedule is way better than not I can't even imagine a job without one!

Originally Posted by AtlanticWBConst

It is not an easy thing to balance multiple projects.

These are some of the factors that help us:

1.) I believe in organization. Good organization can help to eliminate potential problems from even happening, in the first place. I keep separate folders, for separate jobs. Everything is in that folder (in a ballistic computer type bag for the road), not spread out, all over the place.
2.) Fore-thought, and fore-planning are essential to any construction project. Even more so, if running multiple jobs. Regularly, review all facets of each current job, beginning to end. Make the time to do it. This is what separates the "wannabees", from the "ares".
3.) Find the right subs, and the right workers. The right sub contractors are the ones that you do not have to babysit. They are the ones that communicate. They are the ones, that have the ability to make good onsite-decisions and "calls".
The same can be said for workers.
No job can run on automatic-pilot. There are times that you should be there, there are times that you should not have to be there. Train your help to work the way you need them to work, in order to be 99% self-sufficient, equip them to be as well.
Train your subs (without letting them realize it) to the way you need them to work, when on your jobs.
4.) Personal scheduling: Work out a proper schedule to take care of all aspects of your business. Example: I do all my phone calls, with a hands free set on the road. It's down time = use it to your advantage.
5.) Mobile office: You need a "form" of one, if you are going to run, more than one job...period.
6.) C-O-M-M-U-N-I-C-A-T-I-O-N.
7.) All workers and subs are required to check in every morning, and every day's end....period.
8.) Note pads = always have one and a pen.
9.) Get up a little earlier in the morning. If you are used to the 8-5, it's time to change your schedule. Get up earlier, and you'd be surprised at how much more you can get done and how much more organized you will be.
10.) Develop a good list of suppliers and reps. If you have specific sales people, or reps, that you can do business with, on a regular basis, they can do alot of the extra work, and phone calls for you. They can even run materials and supplies out to your jobsites for you.
11.) Always be "networking". You will be able to find resources that can help you.
12.) Have a good office, or home office. Sometimes, you just need a nice big table to spread out the paperwork, until you can catch up to it.
13.) Keep track of your project expenses.
14.) It's a fact, more jobs = more driving. Be prepared for more gas use, and more wear on your vehicle.
15.) If you have a business partner, think about what his/her strong points are, think about what your strong points are. Delegate business matters accordingly. You will get more done.
16.) Always develop a system for everything. It will create efficiency.
17.) MANAGEMENT SKILLS: Good communication, written lists, forms, follow ups, inspecting, co-ordination, fore-thought, planning, all of the above....
To successfully run multiple projects, your are a manager first, and a carpenter, GC, or whatever.... second.

Originally Posted by Zinsco

There's always extras, changes, delays, unforeseen things... When you start a job and you have it all scheduled out on your computer, that is never the way it actually goes down.

Originally Posted by Tao_Rider

This is what I posted:

If you want to run multiple crews, your company’s culture has to be one that builds leaders. Piece work is a great way to do it. We run three teams and here is how we do it....