Time Savers for Every Contractor – Part 2 of 3: Getting the Job Finished in Record Time
As a contractor in the trades our brains are often a much more useful tool than our bodies. Sure we need to use the two interchangeably to complete any contracting job; however, we can definitely save time on any job site if we work smarter, not harder. Below you will find my best tips for getting a job done the smart way so you save yourself a lot of time.
Work Smarter, Not Harder
1.) Always Stick to Your Plans
Youāve spent the time taking detailed notes, sketches, and pictures of the job site. Youāve also planned out how to execute the job efficiently and effectively. A key part in saving time on your job is to trust in your good judgment while quoting the job, and stick to your plans. Your intuition and proper planning will take you a long way in getting each job done right. Changing your mind too many times while completing a job will make you spend a lot more time on the job and often time, you will end up making many more mistakes than you would have made had you followed your original game-plan.
2.) Finish One Thing Before Starting the Next
This sounds simple, but it is so easy to get side tracked if you are a contractor on a job site. You set of to start one part of the job, and the next thing you know, the phone rings, your apprentice asks you a question, another contractor asks you to pass them a tool- You know the drill. The key here is focus. Multitasking may seem like an efficient option but it isnāt the best way to get things done quickly, and still finish a job that you can be proud of. When we multi-task, it takes us longer to get back into the initial task we were working on. It becomes easy to forget a tool, a measurement, or what our next step was going to be. All of this translates into time lost. Pick one task, and stick to it until it is finished. The only exception to this practice would be if you were doing something that took a long time to dry or set. In cases like this, always be logical.
3.) Have the Appropriate Tools for the Job Handy
Spend the money to buy quality tools. There is nothing worse than a tool breaking while on a jobsite, or finding out that your tool cannot perform the task you need it to do. Once you own these tools, make sure to bring them to your job. Carrying all the needed tools and materials is not only professional; but it will save you time in trying to buy them while the job is partway in completion. Other contractors donāt like lending their tools out, and often time they might say ānoā. If youāve taken the money to buy good quality tools it is also important that you donāt misplace them and that they are fully functional. Write or engrave your name into your tools, so they donāt get mixed up with other tradespeopleās tools. Ensure that the batteries for your power tools are fully charged before you get to the jobsite.
A good tip to keep your tools handy is to keep them in a common place on the job site. Leaving them lying around everywhere will keep you running around and wasting time looking for them. Invest in a good quality leather work belt or pouch, and never leave home without the tools you know you will need. Often times it is the little things that we end up looking for on the jobsite. In addition to my trade-specific tools, I never leave home without a flashlight, tape measure, level, pencil, notepad, hammer, screwdrivers, utility knife, pliers, mask, safety glasses, and safety boot covers. All of these items fit easily in my tool pouch, and they save me the time from scrambling around without them.
Now that you understand how to get your job finished in record time, read on to Part 3 of the Time Savers for Every Contractor series. Iāll discuss how to save time finishing a job well-done. Youāll learn how to speed up your clean up, communicate with other contractors and sub-contractors and gain your customerās satisfaction with your job.
