Managing remotely

[mannyb]

anyone manage projects remotely? sometimes 3 or 4 hrs away remotely. How do you manage people you cant see? How do you manage hours? Progress? Efficiency ? quality? I do visit sites to check on these things but sometimes its too late, you cant make them go back and try to fix it when you are already some what on schedule or stay late, its already 7 at night. If anyone has experience with managing projects from afar let me know. Everyone does a great job for the most part and I do understand there will be some slacking off and poor craftsmanship I just cant help thinking they could all do alot better including myself.

 

[Fred B]

If you are going to be that far off from the job site and maybe on regular basis, might consider if you have anybody that can be trusted and experienced to delegated some supervisory capacity to in your absence. This is probably the toughest part of having employees and running multiple jobs simultaneously.
Have done this on different occasions when I've had to be on another job site, would delegate some authority to my most experienced guy, and with clear expectations of what was to be completed and clearly stated what needed further direct approval from me. Also tried to be readily reachable by phone. Cell phone and photos definitely your friend and a useful tool.
But do need to be ready for goofs that might need to be fixed, even under the best of circumstances. And be clear up front that it would be expected if they mess it up they need to clean it up. But if you can't be reached and they make a call to do something a certain way and it didn't work out, can't really come down on them as long as it's not a code thing that should have been known by your most experienced guy.

 

[mannyb]

If you are going to be that far off from the job site and maybe on regular basis, might consider if you have anybody that can be trusted and experienced to delegated some supervisory capacity to in your absence. This is probably the toughest part of having employees and running multiple jobs simultaneously.
Have done this on different occasions when I've had to be on another job site, would delegate some authority to my most experienced guy, and with clear expectations of what was to be completed and clearly stated what needed further direct approval from me. Also tried to be readily reachable by phone. Cell phone and photos definitely your friend and a useful tool.
But do need to be ready for goofs that might need to be fixed, even under the best of circumstances. And be clear up front that it would be expected if they mess it up they need to clean it up. But if you can't be reached and they make a call to do something a certain way and it didn't work out, can't really come down on them as long as it's not a code thing that should have been known by your most experienced

If you are going to be that far off from the job site and maybe on regular basis, might consider if you have anybody that can be trusted and experienced to delegated some supervisory capacity to in your absence. This is probably the toughest part of having employees and running multiple jobs simultaneously.
Have done this on different occasions when I've had to be on another job site, would delegate some authority to my most experienced guy, and with clear expectations of what was to be completed and clearly stated what needed further direct approval from me. Also tried to be readily reachable by phone. Cell phone and photos definitely your friend and a useful tool.
But do need to be ready for goofs that might need to be fixed, even under the best of circumstances. And be clear up front that it would be expected if they mess it up they need to clean it up. But if you can't be reached and they make a call to do something a certain way and it didn't work out, can't really come down on them as long as it's not a code thing that should have been known by your most experienced guy.

I am always available and I have lead guys onsite for projects. Im not nieve to think there wont be any mistakes, errors, slacking off, but I do expect consistency in their work especially when the project is basically the same layout as the last. NOT to mention everyone wants a raise and cant find good people and if you do find someone you, they cant perform.

 

[jmellc]

I haven't done it but I did work for awhile for a home improvement company, specializing in kitchens. They mostly had secretaries in the office trying to manage the jobs. Some manager would make out a list of contractors in the order they were to come. Office would call a contractor, he goes & does his work, calls back in. Then she calls next contractor, etc.

It was a disaster. Totally disorganized & dysfunctional in every way. I did about a dozen jobs for them and quit. I was usually the only contractor that did my project start to finish. Most others quit halfway through projects. I went to several where they weren't ready for me and several where I had to go back and fix damaged items. Fortunately, I managed to get paid for it all and didn't really lose anything, but It was low paying to begin with.