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Keeping your project on schedule is a major project in itself. You and your contractor need to coordinate all the actions in a construction project. For example, your electrical systems can’t be installed until the framing is complete, and the house can’t be framed until the foundation is installed. With so many people dependent upon the time frame of others, you need a simple way to keep track of everything, even if your contractor is managing the schedule.

Proactive communication is probably the single most important factor for a successful custom home. Make yourself easily available by phone, email, or text so your contractor or architect can reach you when they need you. Be prepared to respond to messages promptly; otherwise, if your crew runs into a snag, the project can sit in limbo while your contractor waits for you to check in and return messages — costing you time and money. If you’re a recluse or shy when it comes to dealing with people, you may need to adjust your lifestyle and contact management approach until your project is completed.

Staying in close contact requires you to have immediate portable access to phone numbers for your contractor, architect, loan officer, and other key players.

Be sure to create contacts in your smartphone for every team member on your project. Fill out the contact information as fully as possible so you don’t get confused between Phil the trim carpenter and Phil from your city’s building department. Sharing contacts with your partner or other interested parties is a good way to keep everyone in the loop on the project.

If electronics aren’t your thing, we highly recommend a Franklin Planner from www.franklincovey.com. They come in many sizes that can also serve as your planning notebook. You can keep all your contact information, as well as your calendar, with a pencil and have it ready whenever you need it. And if you use a planner, your batteries will never go dead because — unlike smartphones and laptops — planners never have to be charged!