Why Skipping Project Management When Building Your House in Kenya Is a Costly Mistake
When Daniel Mutuku first envisioned his dream home in Juja, he imagined that the process would be smooth: buy land, hire a contractor, and watch his home rise from the ground, brick by brick.
He had saved for several years and was confident that his sh 3 million budget would be enough to build a simple 3-bedroom house.
However, six months into the construction project, he was spending far more than he had intended and was running out of money. “I had barely finished the foundation when I realised I was in trouble,” he said in an interview with Business Daily.
The cost of materials was increasing unexpectedly, and every time he visited the site, there was always something new to pay for – more sand and cement, extra workers, structural repairs.
Across Kenya, many aspiring homeowners can relate to Mutuku’s journey. Most begin their construction journey with excitement, only to grapple with unexpected financial and logistical nightmares down the line.
However, many of them are rarely aware that skipping project management is one of the most costly mistakes when building a house in Kenya.
What is project management?
Project management refers to the process of overseeing and coordinating all tasks and stakeholders involved in a construction project to ensure they align with defined budgets, goals, and timelines.
It entails identifying the project’s requirements, coming up with a project plan, allocating resources, and monitoring the process to ensure that the construction project is completed in time and stays within the set budget.
Why project management is important when constructing your home in Kenya
Construction project management is a cost-saver for contractors and clients building their homes. Some of its benefits include:
- Increased efficiency
Construction project managers develop detailed plans to ensure that all construction workers are always working on the correct tasks and ensure that they complete these tasks on time. Consequently, the plan ensures that all projects are completed quickly and with minimal delays.
- Reduced cost
Project managers develop budgets and monitor expenditures to ensure that all stakeholders stick to the budget and complete tasks on time. In doing so, project management saves you money and prevents cost overruns.
With inflation driving up costs, a good project manager can save you money by comparing suppliers, stocking materials during off-peak seasons, and buying the right construction materials.
- Risk management
Construction projects are often unpredictable and full of unexpected risks, with many unforeseen challenges cropping up during various phases of construction. These risks may include weather challenges, material shortages, and labour shortages.
Experts suggest that many homeowners abandon their projects for years after running out of money to curb unexpected challenges. Project management helps troubleshoot potential risks and develop plans to mitigate them.
- Effective communication
Proper and timely communication is vital in construction projects, which typically involve various stakeholders such as architects, contractors, suppliers, and engineers. Beyond the financial strain, one of the biggest challenges homeowners face is that of dealing with unreliable fundis and contractors.
Project management ensures effective communication among all stakeholders, ensuring that they are all informed about the project’s progress and are working towards a common goal.
- Prevents project delays
Project management reduces project delays and ensures that the project meets all construction objectives. It enables you to monitor and track the project from start to completion.
You’ll have full control over your project plans and be able to tell immediately if any aspects of your construction project are falling behind, allowing you to intervene on time to prevent delays.
Conclusion
While building in Kenya is not for the faint-hearted, proper project management is a cost saver for any construction project. It ensures proper resource utilisation, reduced wastage, timely communication, and risk mitigation.
Project management also ensures that your project adheres to your budget and is of the highest standard. Ultimately, nothing compares to the fulfillment of finally moving into a house you built from scratch.