From managing timelines, budgets, and resources to staying on top of all the necessary administrative work and documentation, successfully completing construction projects can be a huge challenge. However, while it can be extremely difficult for managers and business owners to juggle all of these responsibilities on their own, hiring a good construction assistant is a great way to make sure that future projects are a success.
Constriction assistants are incredibly useful because they can perform a wide variety of different tasks that allow construction businesses to operate more efficiently without having to worry about getting bogged down with every fine detail. That being said, the wide breadth of skills that construction assistants possess can make figuring out how to best utilize them a lot harder than you might initially think.
If you truly want to get the most out of your construction assistant, you need to understand just what exactly they can do for you. So, if you’re thinking about hiring a new construction assistant, here are some of the key construction assistant duties that you can expect them to take care of on the job.
Scheduling and Timeline Management
Completing construction projects requires a lot of careful coordination between different teams and workers who perform a wide variety of specialized jobs. All it takes is one person’s schedule to be a bit off, and all of a sudden, you’re behind schedule and working overtime to make sure that you can complete your project on time.
With so many other things to worry about, it can be easy for managers and business owners to make scheduling mistakes that they don’t notice until it’s too late. However, construction assistants help ensure that this doesn’t happen by managing schedules and making sure that the right labor is in place at the right time.
Data Entry and Documentation
Another key duty that construction assistants are in charge of is data entry and documentation. Whether it’s entering project data into the proper databases or filling out and managing administrative paperwork and permits, construction assistants excel at this type of work, which can help you ensure that your business continues to run smoothly.
Invoicing and Payment Tracking
Along the same lines as paperwork, construction assistants are also responsible for keeping track of invoices and payments. From making payments to your subcontractors and suppliers to sending and tracking invoices to your clients, construction assistants are in charge of making sure that cash is flowing in the right direction and on time.
Budget Monitoring
One of the most significant challenges that comes along with construction projects is budgeting. Your construction businesses simply can’t afford to go over budget when completing a project, but if you’re not careful, this is exactly what might happen.
Construction assistants help construction companies mitigate these risks by keeping track of budget allotments and expenditures throughout the duration of the project, ensuring that money is being spent efficiently so that projects don’t go over budget.
Managing Submittals and RFIs
Information is just as crucial as any other resource when it comes to completing construction projects efficiently, so it’s no surprise that another key duty that construction assistants take care of involves the flow of information.
From ensuring that requests for information (RFIs) are responded to as quickly as possible to accurately recording new information as it comes in, construction assistants perform all the tasks necessary to keep necessary information flowing anywhere it’s needed.
Resource Allocation
Proper resource allocation is key to the success of any construction project, and construction assistants have a huge role to play here. Materials, equipment, and labor all need to be in the right place at the right time to ensure that projects progress smoothly and don’t stall out, and construction assistants work hard behind the scenes to ensure just that.
Subcontractor and Supplier Communication
Most construction projects involve working with suppliers to secure the right materials and equipment, as well as coordinating with subcontractors who perform specific tasks on the job site. However, without the proper communication channels in place, it won’t take long for communication to break down and cause problems down the road.
Construction assistants make sure that this doesn’t happen by maintaining clear and open communication between parties so that everyone has the information they need to succeed.
Client Communication
Considering that construction assistants already handle communication with suppliers and subcontractors, it only makes sense that they would do the same with clients.
Communicating with clients is important because it allows companies to better understand their client’s needs and give them frequent updates throughout the construction process. But, while this may be difficult for managers and business owners to handle, construction assistants can leverage their communication skills to keep their clients happy and in the loop from project start to finish.
Marketing and Lead Generation
When you’re in the middle of a project, it can be easy to forget about all of the marketing tasks that are necessary to secure your next one, but this is another area where construction assistants can be helpful.
Construction assistants can perform any number of different marketing tasks, from managing social media accounts and writing weekly email newsletters to finding new leads on potential projects. So, if your team is too preoccupied with a current project to start worrying about the next one, a construction assistant can take all that pressure off by handling marketing for you.
Contact Virtual Construction Assistants Today
Are you looking to hire a virtual assistant for your construction company? Give Virtual Construction Assistants a call! Their team is always there to help and will happily spend the time to get to know you, your business, and your needs so that they can find the ideal construction assistant for your next project.
Whether you want to streamline your business processes and increase efficiency or simply need an extra hand to take care of all that extra admin work, Virtual Construction Assistants is sure to have the perfect construction assistant for you. So, don’t let your business fall behind the competition. Contact Virtual Construction Assistants and get the perfect new member of your team today!