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Design A Successful Building Development Plan | DesignBlendz

Written by Designblendz Team | 11/1/17 2:15 PM



The key to a successful construction project is planning ahead. Without proper planning, builders can run into situations where they run out of time or money. Or, they might learn that their building violates zoning codes.



The way to avoid these pitfalls is to create a well-designed development plan. This plan will outline necessary details of a construction project. With this information, building teams and investors can set a realistic budget and schedule for the job.

Let's take a closer look at what elements you need to include in a building development plan.

Start at the end

The end goal of any building project is a finished building. The purpose of your building plan is to work backward from that finished project and to identify the steps necessary for getting there.

Here are some questions to consider during this phase:

  • What is the primary purpose of this building? For instance, is it commercial, or residential?
  • Where will this building be located? What kind of environmental factors will affect it?
  • How big will this building be? Will it have multiple floors?

Asking yourself these questions will help you think through other sections of your development plan.

Tools and materials

The tools and materials you use for your project will have a big impact on both the cost and the timeline. For this reason, you should identify them early in the process.

In addition to outlining what kinds of materials you want to use, also specify how much of the materials you will need. You will also need to consider how the materials will get to your worksite. Will you have them delivered, or will you transport them there yourself?

Labor

In any project, the cost of labor is often one of the largest costs. For this reason, your building plan must outline how much labor your project will need, and what kind of work the laborers will do. Calculate the number of laborers you expect to need, and the total number of hours you expect them to work.

When calculating the cost of labor, don't forget to consider the cost of recruitment. For certain aspects of your building project, you may need workers with specialized skills and knowledge. For instance, towards the end of the project, you'll need to bring in plumbers and electricians.

Necessary preparations

In most cases, the site you identify for your project won't be immediately ready for construction. So make sure your building plan tasks like demolition or tree clearing that will need to be done first.

Also, remember to consider how zoning regulations will affect your building project. Often, there will be steps you must take at the beginning of the project to ensure compliance with city codes.

Putting your development plan to work

A development plan that takes all these factors into account will serve as the foundation of a successful building project. If you have more questions about building plans and construction projects, contact us. We'll work with to help you lay the right groundwork for your buildings.