Construction management consultants can manage your crews or provide marketing and IT upgrade recommendations. A construction management consulting firm can help you to bring in business, control costs and find the best mix of staff. A construction project management consultancy can conduct research about which projects to bid on and discover what new building software has come on the market.

A construction project management consulting expert can provide specialized employee and management training, review your company’s operations and recommend the latest technology and purchasing programs to keep your company competitive. Begin making the most of construction project management consultants by letting them close deals and bring in additional revenue.

1. Use building project management consulting companies to assess your staff.

2. Look for construction project management consulting services to improve profits.

3. Bring in a construction management consultancy to manage your operations.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Provide your team with training from construction management consulting firms

Request a review of your staff to find out where training could improve their efficiency. Look for a consultancy that can bring in management training and leadership development courses for areas from bidding on contracts to resolving conflicts with clients. A consultant can train your staff in all aspects the project, including staff management and project development.

I recommend: Even with a talented team, you may need to add specific training in areas where they are weak. Consider a firm such as FMI, that has been serving the construction industry with custom management training programs since 1953. Look for training for your team in areas such as dispute resolution and claims avoidance from a company like Synergen Consulting.

Increase your profits with construction management consultants

Look for consultants who can check your estimating and bidding procedures and provide new ways of producing better contracts. They can review your inspection and scheduling procedures or perform the tasks themselves. A consultant should be able to trim time and costs from your projects to improve your bottom line.

I recommend: If you are not realizing the profit you expect, you will want to find a consultant such as JPM that has certified cost estimators, inspectors and project managers to bring in your project at or under budget. Rather than use different consultants for various stages of a project, consider making the most of a full-service construction consulting firm like H.R. Gray.

Contract continued construction project management consulting services

You may reduce some of your costs by outsourcing some or all of your operations to a management consultancy. Hire a project manager for with specific skills to manage each project; use temp help when you can and use construction project management consulting services to run your HR and accounting duties.

I recommend: When bringing in consultants to work with your team on an ongoing basis, you need to find a group that has experience such as Turner and Townsend that bills itself as an extension of your project team. Instead of keeping full-time staff around, you may prefer to call on a consultancy to mange the entire project on a contract basis. Draper & Associates can fulfill many of your construction duties from project management to inventory control and cost management.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Find a specialized construction project management consultancy that can help you integrate the latest construction software programs to make your company more efficient.

From planning and design to construction and follow-up, construction project management consultants coordinate building projects from the planning phase through completion. Construction project management consulting companies take the hassle out of building projects and focus on client objectives like quality, cost and time.

Building project management consulting firms proactively manage the entire construction process including owners, designers, contractors and subcontractors. With vast resources, construction project management consulting firms offer experience, knowledge and skills to provide successful solutions for your construction needs.

Before beginning your search for building project management consultants, it is important to define your consulting needs. Clearly identify the goal of your construction management consultancy service, including project scope, services needed, time frame and budget. This information will help you select the best consultant to meet your specific needs.

When selecting a construction project manager consultant, research each firm and evaluate the following:

1. What kind of experience do building project management consultancies offer in your type of construction project?

2. What construction leadership, administration and management services do the building project management consulting companies provide to simplify your construction project?

3. How much should your business invest in construction project management consulting services?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Hire construction project management consultants who specialize in your building project

Select construction management consultants who are seasoned professionals with extensive experience in your construction project or industry. Ask to see a list of past and present clients, and request references.

I recommend: Barton Malow specializes in construction management consulting for corporate, industrial, energy, health, higher education, historic renovations, K-12 education and sports facilities, and the firm includes sample projects of each specialty market. Boldt Consulting Services focuses on the planning and program management of health care and higher education facilities. Bostleman features an extensive online client list organized by industry.

Choose construction management consulting firms with proven skills

Review the construction project management work provided by each firm and request successful project examples of the specific skill sets you need. Evaluate each construction project management consultancy's experience, qualifications and certifications. Assess the firm's ability to simplify your building project through value-added construction leadership, administration and management services.

I recommend: Batson-Cook offers construction project management consulting services for a variety of projects and features descriptions for each type of building project. Creative Construction Solutions provides project management, CPM scheduling, dispute resolution, disbursement management and structural engineering services. ARCADIS, an international construction project management consultancy, offers a diverse selection of construction management and related services.

Select construction management consultants that meet your budget

Many construction project management consulting firms operate on percentage of project cost, while others utilize an hourly fee structure with a maximum total cost. Your construction project management consultancy cost will depend upon the scope of your services.

I recommend: LSV Construction Project Management Services sets fee structures according to client needs with options including an overall fixed price, percentage of project cost or hourly fee. Request a quote for building project management consulting services at Nielsen Builders.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Ask about the construction management consulting firm's ability to create environmentally responsible construction projects. Find out if the construction project management consultants are skilled at incorporating green elements in the planning and construction of your project, and what eco-friendly building products they recommend.

Building project management consultants have an important job. They must maintain contact with all the contractors, set up schedules, handle payroll, perform and many other tasks that come with consulting on any type of residential or commercial construction project.

To find the best construction project management consultants education and training, look for classes, written material and online resources to guide you to the programs you need. Many of these training materials include information on:

1. Managing changes in construction plans for building project management consulting firms.

2. Negotiating issues between those working on the project and the client.

3. Knowing all the basics of a construction project, from groundbreaking to completion.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Take courses that prepare you to work for construction project management consultancy

Those who want jobs as a construction project management consultant can find many educational opportunities available. Different programs can teach you the skills necessary to manage projects big and small. Two- and four- year colleges both offer programs in construction management and community development.

I recommend: Metropolitan Community College offers courses in construction management that teaches important skills, such as project management theory and real-life internship experience. Many who end up as construction project management consultants also have a degree in community development from a four-year school like Delta State University.

Find training courses that combine software programs with construction management consultancy

Most construction management consultants work with some type of a computer program. There are many programs designed specifically for construction consulting, as well as those that can be used more generally. Knowing how to use these programs will help you succeed in your consulting business.

I recommend: Common Sense Solutions offers training before and after the installation of its construction management software, so your employees are fully prepared to use it. Projectmates is another software company that provides extensive training for those that purchase its construction management software.

Choose what type of construction management consulting training best meets your needs

There are many ways to get the training you and your employees need to execute projects. You can find online courses that provide any certifications you may need. Or, you can opt for programs that offer presentations, seminars and multiple class sessions.

I recommend: Spire Consulting Group provides many options for project management training, including multi-day sessions, presentations and seminars. Pinnacle Strategies offers a wide range of in-house presentations on construction project management education. Synergen Consulting provides courses on all aspects of construction project management consulting. 4PM offers training courses in construction project management that teach you the skills to handle any type of construction project.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Because construction project management consulting services provide a host of options for their clients, it is a good idea to get refresher courses from time to time in order to keep your skills sharp.