Worth hiring a project manager?

[Anonymous]

We've recently finished designs on our house renovation - a pretty major project (new kitchen, moving W/D to upstairs, adding powder room, new bathroom, new floors/subfloors, crawl space encapsulation, new HVAC, plumbing, electric, etc.). We are currently gathering bids from general contractors. Our designer recommended we hire a project manager/designer to oversee the work of the GC, help with selecting and acquiring finishes, and overall management of day to day activities over the course of what will probably be a multi-month long renovation. From what I've gathered, they typically charge 10%-15% of the project cost, so we are looking at close to $20k for the manager.

Has anyone found worth it to hiring a project manager for a major home renovation like this? Both wife and I will remain in town, but work full time jobs.

[Anonymous]

Will you have time to pick out finishes? There are SO many things to pick out.

[pso]

I would imagine so. The project manager that was recommended is also an interior designer, so I'm guessing they have some useful knowledge where to acquire quality finishes beyond home depot/Lowes. Another +1 or project managers?

[Anonymous]

our GC contract included a PM.

[Anonymous]

Our architect did that. I would never have wanted to go out and select finishes on my own. They narrowed it down to a few options in each case.

[Anonymous]

I handled my high end kitchen renovation myself before I had kids/while pregnant with my first. Now we are renovating a bathroom and yes, I hired a project manager/designer to do it. It’s much more expensive, a percentage that makes me cringe, but I also don’t want to ruminate over every decision and be upset that something didn’t come out the way I envisioned.

Long story short: if you have trouble making decisions and tend to obsess over details, it might be worth it for you to outsource that and let someone curate your options.

[Anonymous]

My GC played this role for me (he also has a designer he works with). For example, suggesting I choose between two sinks, or going with me to the tile store and making suggestions about what would work best. I would not have wanted to do it alone but I also saw it as part of his job--doesn't the GC manage the project?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My GC played this role for me (he also has a designer he works with). For example, suggesting I choose between two sinks, or going with me to the tile store and making suggestions about what would work best. I would not have wanted to do it alone but I also saw it as part of his job--doesn't the GC manage the project?

This is what I'm trying to understand - whether it's necessary to bring on another party to liaison between myself and the GC or if working directly with the GC myself would suffice. My impression is that some GCs will work with owners on selecting finishes others strictly do the installing.

But beyond helping with the finishes, could a 3rd party project manager work with the GC to ensure the renovation stays within budget and timeline and act as the owner's advocate? Has anyone done something like this?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My GC played this role for me (he also has a designer he works with). For example, suggesting I choose between two sinks, or going with me to the tile store and making suggestions about what would work best. I would not have wanted to do it alone but I also saw it as part of his job--doesn't the GC manage the project?

This is what I'm trying to understand - whether it's necessary to bring on another party to liaison between myself and the GC or if working directly with the GC myself would suffice. My impression is that some GCs will work with owners on selecting finishes others strictly do the installing.

But beyond helping with the finishes, could a 3rd party project manager work with the GC to ensure the renovation stays within budget and timeline and act as the owner's advocate? Has anyone done something like this?

It just sounds like one more person to manage, to me. If I didn’t trust my GC to give good advice and think through the project as a whole, I would hire a different GC. To me that’s the point of a GC versus hiring individual trades yourself.

[Anonymous]

Yeah I hear you. I can see where it ends up being where I am managing the manager who manages the manager of the renovation. Too many cooks in the kitchen.

[Anonymous]

I’m a GC.

This is a good idea with a couple of caveats

Some one needs to manage the selections. On my jobs I push for this not to be the client but rather either the Architect or an Interior designer. There is actually software that Interior Designers use that helps manage the selections.

Depending upon your level of construction documents you may or may not need additional detailing. A perfect example of this would be the MBR vanity wall - usually double sinks - often recessed medicine cabinets - potentially wall mounted faucets. Some one needs to draw this and it’s not the GC. So it’s either the Architect or the interior designer.

I prefer the Architect - usually. Mainly because they stay in their lane. I often experience issues with ID’s trying to mark up construction materials, bring in their own finishers, etc. I don’t need the added headache so that’s why I prefer the architect to perform this work. And a lot of higher end architects like to do so.

If they don’t and it’s an ID I have previously worked with then it’s a welcomed addition to the team. Jobs go faster - someone owns all the cut sheets, etc.

On jobs that lack this resource I have a young Architect that I recommend for this role. I have to be sensitive to the Architect on the job but again I usually push for them to take on this role. If they pass then it’s easier for me to explain that someone needs to do it.

Overall I usually receive very favorable feedback about this role. Folks naturally have reservations but in the midst of it they kind of get it and are grateful for the help.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m a GC.

This is a good idea with a couple of caveats

Some one needs to manage the selections. On my jobs I push for this not to be the client but rather either the Architect or an Interior designer. There is actually software that Interior Designers use that helps manage the selections.

Depending upon your level of construction documents you may or may not need additional detailing. A perfect example of this would be the MBR vanity wall - usually double sinks - often recessed medicine cabinets - potentially wall mounted faucets. Some one needs to draw this and it’s not the GC. So it’s either the Architect or the interior designer.

I prefer the Architect - usually. Mainly because they stay in their lane. I often experience issues with ID’s trying to mark up construction materials, bring in their own finishers, etc. I don’t need the added headache so that’s why I prefer the architect to perform this work. And a lot of higher end architects like to do so.

If they don’t and it’s an ID I have previously worked with then it’s a welcomed addition to the team. Jobs go faster - someone owns all the cut sheets, etc.

On jobs that lack this resource I have a young Architect that I recommend for this role. I have to be sensitive to the Architect on the job but again I usually push for them to take on this role. If they pass then it’s easier for me to explain that someone needs to do it.

Overall I usually receive very favorable feedback about this role. Folks naturally have reservations but in the midst of it they kind of get it and are grateful for the help.

I am the PP GC.

A couple of follow on thoughts - I am not suggesting that this person will help keep you on schedule nor budget. And would strongly suggest against having this person attempt to perform this role. If you want to stay on schedule pay for weekly job meetings with the Architect, the GC and yourself and don’t pick the lower end bidders - they will not have money in their bids for speed.

That said at a whole other level of construction there are folks that act as Owner’s reps that will help keep jobs on schedule and on budget. They are usually only found on the very high end in residential construction. It doesn’t sound like that is what you need.

[Anonymous]

I worked directly with our GC and it was a part time job (at least) on top of my actual job. Picking finishes was not the most time-consuming part: it was making sure things stayed on track, materials got ordered on time so they arrived on time instead of causing delays, thinking about how some of the rough construction would work with the finishes (e.g., we have a weird dryer vent situation because nobody thought about cabinets even though they were in the drawings and ordered). If you have an actual project manager who can do this, that's tremendous.

I am not sure if a designer is the right person. Our architect definitely would not have been the right person.