After work I drove up to the project site. Everyone had already left for the day, but I walked around for five or ten minutes before heading back down the hill.
I try to visit the jobsite every day (or at least every other day) if I can. It’s not about reviewing or critiquing the work that’s being done per se. As an owner-builder you might not necessarily have the professional experience to judge the work at a glance anyway. But checking in helps you keep tabs on the project and answer important questions: did that contractor who said he’d do some work today follow through? Is the driveway too icy to drive down? Is the jobsite clean and are there any obvious safety hazards? Are animals getting into the garbage? Is lumber lying directly on the ground? Does the porta-potty need a refresh?
In general, I try to limit the amount of time I spend on the building site when people are working. As an owner-builder you’re not responsible for managing a subcontractor’s employees, but you are responsible for managing the project and making sure that nothing is going off the rails. Even a three-minute walkaround is enough to spot many obvious problems and confirm that things are more or less on track.
Photo taken December 31, 2019. Posted January 9, 2020.
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