Project management software

16 years ago

OK, for all the owner-builders..

How did you keep track of everything? Schedules, time frames, subs, etc... Did you use a software package, simple spread sheet, or something else?

Rusty

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Comments (6)

George Dorer
16 years ago
Use whatever you are comfortable with. When I built my house (many years ago, I kept a ledger and a calendar. Now I would use MS Project (I am a professional project manager). There is a learning curve with this software as well as a price ($400).
bigkahuna
16 years ago
UDA Construction suite 2007 or whatever it is now is quite good. Its not cheap but a great investment and is fairly easy to use...Tracks budget, schedules, has contracts, lien releases etc etc etc

Good Luck
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jimonthebeach
16 years ago
I'm a project manager too. I've used Microsoft project.

For our house,(move in is in 3 weeks) it would not have been as effective as the large paper lists (flip chart size) that we posted and updated every day and kept up on the walls of the house.

We listed everything to be done the next day, the next week, the next month and tasks that were critical such as inspections and ouside appointments like propane tank burial and power hook-up. We increased the task detail as the time frame shortened (i.e. more detail on tomorrow's tasks, less on next months).

The key is that EVERYONE had real time access to the list and could add or mark items out as they happened.

That encouraged ownership of the jobs.

YMMV.

Jim

PS: I'd doubt that 20% of our crews used computers and that 0% had a copy of MS project to view (yes, I know there are other ways to view the schedules) or, more importantly, update the scheudle with thier own activities.
rusty105
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks guys. The software would only be for my benefit, just to make sure things were on schedule. I do like the idea of posting a weekly schedule in the house for all to see.

Rusty
ronfrank
16 years ago
My wife and I build / remodel houses for a living and also work as consultants to owner builders. I just started working with a software especially designed for owner builders. Contact me if you would like more info.
Ron
owner.builder@yahoo.com
homepro01
16 years ago
I would use MS Project if you know how to use it. You can create a variety of reports that are easily printed and posted. I also like the calendar. You can do so much with this application that I have started building my project plan using it. My architect also uses it to track all his builds.

Good luck!

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Project management software

Comments (6)

George Dorer

bigkahuna

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jimonthebeach

rusty105
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Project management software

Comments (6)

George Dorer

bigkahuna

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jimonthebeach

rusty105Original Author

ronfrank

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rusty105
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