There are two truths in any project. A project that is well-managed, however lovely the experience, is unspectacular. A mismanaged project, on the other hand, is like a car wreck. Everybody talks about it. I was reminded of this recently when I used a new maid service. House cleaning is a simple exercise in project management. Like any project though, it's about planning, managing the tasks, the time, the expectations, the big picture and the little details, and instilling confidence in your client that they are in good hands.

Here's the scoop...

A few months ago I decided to try out a new maid. I gave Paula the details of my house, she walked through the rooms with me, quoted a price, said how long it would take her, I agreed, and we set a date.

I've used a professional maid service before - 2 people arrive, equipped with their own cleaning tools and supplies, tag team the tasks, and be out in 2 hours. So naturally, I don't keep a full stock of cleaning liquids or gadgets.

So when Paula arrived at 10am, hands-free, and asked me where my vacuum cleaner and mop was, I was unprepared. I dusted off whatever I could find, told her where everything was, and left her to it saying "I have a meeting to prepare for, let me know if you need anything else."

Two hours later, I came out of my office to get lunch, to see that the kitchen was a bit upside down. Paula was in the middle of it. I made small talk as I fixed myself a sandwich and offered to make her one.

"How's it going?" I asked. "Good" she said, huffing and panting. She looked like she could use a cold drink. At this point, I'm looking around to see what her plan was. I asked if she'd been upstairs, and she said "No, I started in the kitchen". OKAY!! "You've been cleaning the kitchen for 2 hours?" NO....of course I didn't say that!! But I was getting worried. How in the world was she going to clean the rest of the house in another 2 hours? I bit my tongue and just said "Well, I'm going to be on a phone call for an hour, so could you do my office last?".

My call went longer than an hour and I was hoping that I wasn't holding Paula up! But I needn't have worried because she had just made it up the stairs to the first bedroom. The downstairs was still in disarray.

Around 4pm, I decided to take a break from work, and check on Paula. I made some Indian tea and as we sat there drinking our chai, talking about her family, I asked her very frankly why it was taking her so long. And she said the house was bigger than she expected and she bit off more than she could chew. Clearly, she was in over her head.

I didn't retort with "but you walked the house" because I felt SO bad for her. Paula worked 8 hours that day! FYI, she never made it to my office. 8 hours of hard manual labor! Not to be a stickler, but the results were less than sparkling. Still, I paid her 50% more that she quoted. Needless to say, I have not asked her clean my house again!

Project (Mis)management

I've never really thought about the efficiency and planning that goes into a 4 hour cleaning job. Sweet as Paula was and hard as she tried, it was clear that she did not have the experience or a method to handle this cleaning project. When she quoted me a price and how long it would take her, it was a stab in the dark. It was in line with market rate, but she underestimated the project and overestimated her abilities. She did not have milestones or a plan of attack. She took twice as long as a pro would have and it eventually cost me more.

Talk about bad project management!!

I cringe as I tell you this story, because a) I'm reliving that uncomfortable afternoon and b) it's the kind of tale my mom repeats.

But I promise you I have a point.

My point is...

Anyone can clean a house. It's a low skill job. The real skill lies in managing the job of cleaning a whole house. Someone who does it everyday has systems in place, the tools to do the best job possible in the shortest amount of time, know the difference between what works and what doesn't, and the experience to be able to plan the attack and hit the mark.

It's the difference between an amateur and a professional.

Because really, good project management is critical for better business management.

We're all adults. We know this! But every so often, we need a reminder.

How does this apply to residential architecture and construction?

I've talked to some who are of the opinion that anyone can design a house, how hard can it be?! Or that anyone can build a house. Truth be told, it's not rocket science. However, DIY (Do It Yourself) is a 3 letter curse word.

When you talk to a professional (architect or builder), remember that you're not just paying for their skills, but a well managed delivery of their skills.

Design Services vs Project Management Services

Design is my technical skill. And designing a house is most certainly not a low skill job.

Project management is my functional skill. It's also my superpower.

Although the two are intricately connected together in my professional services, I like to talk about them distinctively, because both are important components for a successful project. And each takes time.

Without getting into an argument about the (subtle!) differences between hiring a maid and hiring an architect or builder, let me ride my point home.

Without good project management, a sparkling clean house is a non starter.

Cheers,

Sharon.

Have you a taken a break this summer? It's that time of year, when everyone I know is either out or leaving soon before things get crazy again and life has to go back to routine after school starts! I just got back from a much needed vacation with my family. And while it's fresh on my mind, I thought I'd share the one precaution I take before I lock the house and head out the door. If you are going out of town this summer, be sure to take this simple measure to safeguard your home and avoid coming back to a bad situation.

Prevent catastrophe, avoid costly damages

I'm generally not a worry wart. I don't have a pre-vacation checklist that's as long as my arm. But more than a decade of homeownership and working in the home building industry have made me cautious about the two things that are catastrophic when it comes to your home - fire and water. Everything else can be easily fixed.

Let's talk about water damage

As I mentioned in a previous post about water damage to buildings, "most of the water damage and moisture damage in buildings occurs from ‘bulk water intrusion’ - rainwater being the #1 external source and plumbing failures being the #1 internal source." This is corroborated by the fact that a majority of homeowner's insurance claims are related to water damage as a result of burst pipes, or leaks due to wear and tear.

I've been in that situation where we got back from a weekend trip to a flooded kitchen, because the dishwasher broke while we were out. I know a friend who lives with warped wood floors because their faucet connection burst open in the middle of the night. I've worked with clients who've had to demolish their house (or what was left of it) and build new, after a fire or flood caused irreparable damage. I've worked on remodels where the water heater blew up through the garage roof . There was also that time when a braided hose (the flexible pipe connecting the sink faucet to the shut-off valve at the wall) tore open in a brand new house, flooding the second floor just after my clients moved in.

Perhaps, it's better if these accidents happen when we are out of the house!! But the damage can be extensive if left unchecked. These events are so common that we started building in cautionary details in our new houses - like floor drains near toilets, floor recesses with drains under dishwashers and washing machines. Over the top? Maybe! Maybe not!

Depending on the amount of water, length of time, and location, the destruction can affect framing, drywall, electrical wiring, light fixtures, flooring, baseboards, cabinets, furniture and other stuff. I for one would like to avoid spending thousands of dollars in water damage and repairs, not to mention a large water bill and the hassle.

Vacation Precaution

That's why I make it a point to shut-off the main water supply* to the entire house when I leave town. This is my non-negotiable. This and turning down the thermostat on the air-conditioner. My husband worries about the other 25 things!

Caution:

#1 If you do shut the water supply off, be sure to think about your water heater as well. Without a continuous supply of water, your water heater tank is at risk. Depending on the type and setting of the water heater, the heat source, and how long you're gone, the damage could be as minimal as a burnt heating element or more severe with a pressure build-up issue. Since my house is all-electric (i.e. not a gas/propane/oil fired water heater), and it is the middle of summer, I turned the water heater off at the breaker and that was that. If you have a fuel fired water heater, set the water heater to 'vacation' mode or 'pilot'. Turning off the gas supply is not generally recommended, unless you are an expert at reigniting the pilot light, which you will have to do when you get back.

#2 If you have a pool in your backyard, see if you the pool water supply is isolated and only shut-off the water to the house. You probably want the pool pump running and the filter keeping things clean.

#3 If you are gone for more than a week, you're probably going to want to run your irrigation/ sprinkler system or else your lawn and plants will bake in the summer heat.

#4 If your house has a fire sprinkler system that is tied to the house water-supply, then obviously, turning off the water main is not for you.

Alternative:

If shutting off the main water supply is not an option for any of the reasons listed above, simply shut-off the water supply valves at each appliance and plumbing fixture. That includes the dishwasher, clothes washer, icemaker, all sinks, and toilets. Yes, that's a lot of valves.

And don't be tempted to run a last load in the dishwasher or washing machine when you leave.

Where is the shut-off valve?

This depends on your water source and plumbing set-up.

*If you are on city water like me, your main shut-off is the big gate valve at the water meter in the yard box buried near the street. If you can locate where the main line enters your house (in the garage or basement), you might find a ball valve at the entry point, either inside or outside. I don't have this set-up at my house, so I shut the main at the street.

If your house is supplied by a well or rainwater cistern, then the main shut-off is most likely at the pump-house.

If you are building a new house, discuss these scenarios with your plumber or builder or architect. You might want separate shut-off valves that isolate each separate use. This is highly unusual, so I provide a diagram (shown below) to let the plumber plan his installation accordingly. This set-up also allows for easy installation of a water softener or water filter in the future.

How to turn it off?

Simple! Turn the valve clockwise to close, and counterclockwise to open. Remember, righty-tighty, lefty-loosey.

Yes indeed, the list of things you need to take care of before you can take that break can be long and tiring. It's ironic how stressful those days before heading out on vacation can be! But whether it's a long-weekend jaunt, a 10 day getaway, or a 4 week trip overseas, do one last thing.

Turn your water off!