Outpace the Pros By Avoiding These 5 Pitfalls

By WILLIAM MALONEY

New to construction and feeling like the youngest in the room? Don’t let common mistakes derail your buildouts.

Here are five pitfalls that slow things down, and how to sidestep them.

1. Rushing the Planning Phase

As a newbie, it’s tempting to dive in. Create a detailed timeline with buffers for surprises. Consult mentors early. Leave room for the things you didn’t even know to think about.

2. Poor Communication with Teams: Being younger might make you hesitant to speak up. Set weekly check-ins and use your voice. When in doubt, write it down and follow up. Build trust quickly.

3. Ignoring Permits & Regulations: Inexperience can lead to oversights. Research local codes upfront and hire a compliance expert to guide you. If you can afford it, private plan review and inspections lend you much more control over your schedule.

4. Underestimating Budgets: Youthful optimism equals cost overruns. Add 20 percent for contingency and track expenses daily with apps like QuickBooks. Connect your accounts and don’t let anything get spent without capturing the cost.

5. Choosing Subpar Subcontractors: Limited network? It can be an easy trap. Vet your referrals thoroughly and start with small projects to test reliability. Don’t fall into the ”I’m getting XYZ all day” pricing negotiation. Work your way backward from completion, noting timelines and estimated material costs to give you a good starting point for negotiation.

Nail these, and you’ll outpace the pros.

William Maloney is president of Maloney Builders Group.