How to ensure your Interior Design project gets completed within the scheduled time

One of the best advantages of owning a house is having the freedom to renovate it the way you choose to. For many Malaysians, home renovation is an exciting, yet stressful time given the temporary inconvenience it brings.

Whether you are doing up a small-sized apartment or a bungalow, time is always a key factor. And in this regard, an essential but often overlooked aspect is the Project Schedule. As various contractors collaborate on different aspects of the renovation works the project schedule planned out by your Interior Designer is critical and should not be compromised.

In the post, we will highlight some of the critical factors to help safeguard the schedule and prevent project cost/time overruns that can result in a nightmarish experience for the homeowner.

Interior Design Project Schedule & Timeline

The project schedule along with the work breakdown structure outlines every single task that needs to be done from start to finish of an ID project, in the right order. Timely completion for any renovation comes through a few factors.

And below are a few of them that can serve to limit potential project delays, cost overruns and contribute toward a successful renovation

1. Understanding Project Details and its Components

Having a clear direction and understanding of the Interior Design Process and the client’s wishes is imperative prior to start any design works. A good deal of time should be spent here gathering information about the client’s overall direction for design, materials, quality etc.

Time should also be spent establishing a relationship with the client and talking openly about any issues that could lead to a time overrun. By working together and clearly understanding these factors, a proper timeline can be established with everyone on the same page.

2. Focusing on Teams Involved

There a quite a few parties involved in a successful renovation project and each play an important role in its completion. It is crucial that every department is aware of their particular part and how it fits within the installation schedule. Creating accountability through an established awareness limits overrun.

3. Creating a renovation checklist

Creating a checklist with dates of completion for every department to understand their duties and responsibilities is vital. By having a checklist, parties can properly prepare preliminary works off site in order to bring it all together within the scheduled timeline. This is a good example of fore warned is forearmed.

4. Preparing a Progress Report

A written report process, not only for the client but for all relevant departments to meet their obligations sets a visual foundation for everyone to work toward. Each department knows what and when their roles is required and how it affects the overall progress of others. It allows for everyone to be accountable as well as showing clearly where the problems may lay to fix them quickly and efficiently.

5. Keeping Buffer for Unforeseen Circumstances

A contingency is always a good rule of thumb in anything. From the onset of a project, adding a buffer or cushion to the timeline helps to limit the project from being late in delivery. This buffer is not an extension as it is placed in the project timeline within the contract. It allows for problems to be solved without pushing the completion deadline further.

6. Having a Contract Clause to Allow for Penalties

Financial penalties are always an incentive to smoother more reliable progress. Proper project management renders all parties concerned with the renovation to be aware of their liability regarding financial penalties. This issue needs to be discussed with the entire renovation team and contracts need to be prepared not only between the ID firm & client but also with each component/party involved. Being made fully aware of every aspect of any renovation establishes accountability. Accountability fosters success

7. Limiting Amendments / Revisions to Design

Once the design works have been completed, revised, and confirmed with the client, it is prudent to consider the design final and thus NO revision or amendment be performed once the renovation build process has begun. It may seem like a simple revision to a client. However, in renovation like a puzzle, each process is heavily linked to the others and can affect not only the completion deadline but also have an impact on the cost.

The above processes are essential for completing a project on time. They may seem like common sense but are most often not taken into consideration for a renovation project. Keeping them in mind and executing them allows for better sleep and peace of mind. Hopefully, these will let you move into your dream home with sweet dreams rather than painful memories.