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Avoiding Scope Creep in Construction: Tips and Strategies

Scope creep can be a nightmare for anyone in the construction industry. It can lead to financial loss, reduced profitability, time delays, and even strain relationships between builders and customers. In a recent episode of the "Feed Me Your Construction Content" podcast, Carolyn and Joshua McMahon share their insights and personal experiences on how to avoid scope creep and run a profitable business.

One of the main takeaways from their discussion is the importance of setting clear expectations and adding time and cost to the contract when necessary. They stress the need to be transparent and avoid giving away additional services that can result in a financial burden for the builder. Carolyn and Joshua also highlight the impact of scope creep on resource allocation and planning coordination, and the need to be respectful and communicate with trades about their availability and the impact of any changes on their schedule.

Another key point they make is the need to have a clearly defined change order process in the contract. Carolyn emphasizes the importance of avoiding being selfish and thinking about how changes affect everyone involved, while Joshua shares a personal experience where a customer kept pushing for changes even after paying for change order fees. They both stress the need to carefully consider the impact of scope creep on the project and to communicate the change order process early and often to avoid difficult situations.

Lastly, Carolyn and Joshua discuss the importance of upholding construction standards and guidelines during the warranty period, and avoiding giving away things in the field that can create an environment where entitlement is expected, leading to further scope creep.

In conclusion, avoiding scope creep is essential to run a successful and profitable construction project. Carolyn and Joshua's tips and strategies can help builders and contractors navigate this challenge and maintain healthy relationships with their customers and trades. So, next time you're faced with a potential scope creep situation, ask yourself, "is the juice worth the squeeze?" and take action to prevent it.

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Carolyn can be found on LinkedIn at:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-mcmahon-937b89158
Joshua can be found on LinkedIn at:
www.linkedin.com/in/joshuamcmahon15
Email for feedback, questions, complaints, etc:
[email protected]

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