Construction is a dynamic industry that is constantly facing uncertainties from various spheres. The construction industry is impacted the most by changing trends like market conditions, regulatory frameworks, government intervention, or fluctuating demands.

Construction Project cost overrun is one of the most prevalent problems in the construction industry today. It significantly impacts the project scope. Time delay is frequently associated with exceeding budget, often leaving the construction project in great trouble. Therefore, the cost is considered one of the main criteria for mapping the success of large projects.

In this post, we’ll look at the reasons for cost overruns in construction projects, and how you can better avoid them.

Welcome.

Construction Cost Overrun

Cost overrun is the increased cost compared to the actual cost of construction as per the cost estimation in the initial project planning. It is also known as budget overrun or construction overrun.

In other words, construction project overrun refers to various unexpected costs that add up to the final cost of the project budget at the end of a construction project.

Various factors, including scope changes and a major design error, can result in cost overrun.

Causes Of Cost Overrun

1. Erroneous project cost estimation 

Inaccurate cost estimations are the most common cause of project cost overrun. Common estimating mistakes:

• Not fully understanding the project’s objectives and scope
• Not considering the risks that might arise during construction
• Including arbitrary predictions and assumptions
• Not fully reviewing the estimation before finalizing it
• Ignoring the estimations from subcontractors
• Not considering currency exchange rates (if applicable)

2. Hidden costs 

Construction projects often have many hidden costs that may remain out of the calculations while preparing the project estimates. Some of these costs, like permits, work orders, and compensation (if any), are unpredictable, and there is no fixed ratio to calculate them. They are highly project/ place/situation specific. The changing market conditions may also incur hidden costs.

PERMITS

The number of permits and time to issue them vary greatly depending on the project location. Even the cost of getting all the permits depends upon a variety of factors, including politics. So no one can really predict the exact figure before the project starts. However, having a contingency plan to deal with such unpredictable costs can help to keep the budget under rein.

DELAYS

Obtaining supplies, site issues, or weather delays can all cause a project to be delayed. Events like the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent restrictive measures were major reasons why almost all projects were delayed in 2020 and 2021.

Most projects slated to start during these periods was started with considerable delays; thus, the inflation greatly impacted their budget.

3. Poor planning and design

Cost overruns in building projects are sometimes caused by poor design and sloppy planning. These errors can force last-minute changes, significantly delaying your project and costing thousands of dollars.

4. Not including change orders 

Change orders are frequent in the construction industry, yet they take some organizations by surprise. Change orders lead to design modifications. This, in turn, requires allocating resources and time to carry out the modifications. As a result, going overboard on the budget is definite.

Let us understand why this happens. Any major construction project requires various parties to coordinate and synchronize their work to get desired outcomes. Thus, the works of all parties are interlinked. Any change in one part can start a ripple effect and force other parties to change accordingly.

5. Poor site management 

Construction projects have huge works which need huge numbers of machinery, materials, and manpower. Therefore, site management becomes crucial for the project’s success. A project manager plays a key role in managing all the parties and ensuring smooth workflow on the construction site.

On the contrary, poor site management leads to project delays, disputes, and a lack of coordination between teams. If these things are not controlled on a project site, it can result in severe loss of working output, which will cause project delays and additional expenses.

6. Poor Communication

There are various moving parts and a continuous flow of materials in a construction project. To facilitate a smooth movement of men and materials, a robust communication channel is required. Employing a team of professionals (kindly use an embedded link on the professionals) with understanding on communication skills among construction workers will save you from undesirable outcomes and costly errors that will push the project’s budget overboard.

7. Scope change

Scope change is another major contributor to cost overruns. Humans and machine both have their limitations in predicting the future accurately. There are situations that are beyond anyone’s control. So when the anticipated conditions for a project change, the project scope changes accordingly.

Therefore, some degree of reworking seems normal for a construction project. However, keeping an eye on how frequently and costly these reworks occur will help mitigate the budget going wayward.

8. Improper resource planning 

Poor resource planning is another typical cause of budget overruns. Failure to estimate the resources that will be used during the project may result in inappropriate and inadequate procurement.

Resource planning is an essential part of construction management as well as contract management. Inadequate or irrelevant contact information may result in lengthy chains of negotiations, disputes, and arbitration. The end result will almost certainly be a project delay and cost overrun.

9. Late payments 

Cost estimators and project management teams often overlook late payments, which causes significant project cost overruns. Late payments frequently result in lost or delayed work, resulting in wasted labor costs. Besides, late payments prevent critical construction materials from being delivered to a construction site, causing schedule delays.

Late payments can also harm a construction company’s reputation with distributors. It is difficult for a construction company with such tarnished reputations to associate with the best contractors and subcontractors. Such companies can also suffer from higher upfront costs and less payment flexibility.

How To Avoid Cost Overrun in Construction Project

I. Meticulous project planning 

Accurate project planning is one of the best ways to ensure a project’s success. The more precise your estimates and detailed your design, the more likely the project will stay within budget.

A detailed budget and risk management plan can help you cover all of your bases and keep the project on track to meet its goals.

II. Due diligence with vendors 

Many projects necessitate working with third-party vendors. Their assistance can range from specific task completion to the supply of critical raw materials.

Before establishing these key supplier relationships, ensure that your teams have diligently verified the vendors’ backgrounds. To accomplish this, go over the following steps:

• Determine the vendor’s ability to complete the specific tasks and meet the needs of the 
• Complete detailed checks to ensure the accuracy of the quotes 
• Examine the vendor’s track record to see if they have a history of successful projects with other 

III. Resource optimization

According to PMI research, the early stages of a project have the greatest influence on its overall cost. You can have a more cost-effective project that meets its objectives by assembling a skilled team with optimal resources.

End users, internal teams, and other relevant parties may submit multiple change requests, resulting in project cost overruns. Before approving any scope changes, conduct a thorough review and reassign the available resources.

IV. Project management tools 

Project management tools can enhance the project’s efficiency and help in cost control. Project managers can use such tools to efficiently monitor project resources and schedule jobs to prevent resource waste.

These project management tools also facilitate seamless communication between teams and keep the project on track. The project teams have easy access to all the details required for their work, while key stakeholders get a broad overview of the project’s progress.

Mega construction projects often go overboard in their budget and timeline due to various factors. While some factors are unavoidable, others are avoidable by having proper mechanisms in place. Having a competent project manager and general manager is also necessary to keep the project under budget and finish it on time.