Building consultancy / project management - small projects

[torqueofthedevil]

I work in the industry for a large company, project managing large projects.

I have recently been asked to help a friend of a friend find a contractor to carry out some building works at his former property. When I went to see him at the property, there were a number of other works required - groundworks, roofing, arboricultural works, rendering, electrical etc.

He knows what he wants and is experienced but doesn't have the contacts or the knowledge on how to manage / coordinate trades etc. He has renovated properties in the past and used a single point of contact to project manage the works for him, what he called consultancy but I'd probably call project management, for which he is happy to pay a fee.

Is this something I could turn into a business?! I've always wanted to start my own business and I seem to have the right experience for this. At first I'd just do it alongside my job.

Has anyone used this type of service? How did it pan out? What did you pay for the service.

I plan on the client paying the contractors directly so I am just providing consultancy and not acting as a main contractor - id imagine this limits any responsibility I have for any defect / issues caused by the contractors but obviously I would need to research this more.

[malks222]

yes, definitely mileage in the idea to make a business out of it. as for idea of what you could charge/ the'd want to pay? look up construction project management day rates. these will generally be for a PM to be based on a project on a freelance/consultancy basis, so you need to up that rate to cover the shorter term work etc....

I have been working on a contract basis as quantity surveyor and have considered looking at projects like you mentioned, but so far have stuck to 6month/1 year contracts on larger projects and so far so good.

my biggest concern would be trying to do this work, whilst still fully employed by another company. imagine your client is paying for your PM services, you are looking after a a new extension being built for him, builder makes a mistake, cuts a cable/bursts a pipe. now as the client i'd be expecting my project manager to be on-site sorting this out for me, but your currently on your normal job (mon-fri 9-5 gig) trying to answer phonecalls sorting out the plumber to go fix the burst pipe, whilst the builder is there claiming it wasnt him...... the client starts getting roped in wondering what he's paying you to manage because no-one can get hold of you as your on another job and your actual employer is annoyed as he's currently paying you but your of doing sideline work.......

as I said I really do think it would work, as people dont necessarily have the time to deal with all the different trades when doing extensions/ small projects and dont want to be stung/caught out by builders. but you have to be clear exactly what service you are providing.

[GT03ROB]

Managing large projects all over the place, I've thought about doing this as a better lifestyle being based from home. I think there is probably mileage in it.

But i do struggle to see how it can pay it's way if you are working for small developers or the domestic market. It would require multiple clients all of whom see themselves as your priority. The struggle would be to keep all of them happy. Everything that goes wrong will be your fault!

Doing it alongside your day job..... forget it. It will get you fired.