Rehab Project Management Software

[Jim Foil]

Hi all,

In my quest to streamline efficiencies for rehabs I defaulted to my normal way of managing projects- namely using Microsoft Project or Excel. In thinking of all of the dependencies that go into a rehab, and obtaining status updates if not local to visibly validate it makes sense to use a collaborative project management software where the different contractors can update their assigned tasks, etc.

An example is Ace Project (on online cloud based package that is free up to five users).

I've read the relevant threads on BT, so will look at that, but am looking more for ease of use, and cost at moment is a prime consideration.

So, to all of you rehabbers out there, what do you use to actually manage given projects? In the past, I've only done one rehab at a time, and wasn't dependent on timelines, etc. so was a bit loose in my oversight.

I'm looking at ways of tracking performance to better gauge efficiency, budget and tracking!

Thanks in advance,.

Jim

[James Bowie]

We use Podio for both lead management and project management. Podio is very customizable so it serves as the "central hub" or "interface" and creates the relationships between items. We then use Google Spreadsheets to track the numbers and then attach the spreadsheets to the Podio project page via soft link. All of our books are kept in Quickbooks. 

This method has worked pretty well and we just hit 200 rehabs, but we did our first 100 out of Google Sheets and Quickbooks. 

I have also heard really good things about Smartsheet for project management. Smartsheet is just a spreadsheet that allows you to attach files, make comments, and create relationships between different sheets. 

Ultimately - there is no "best" software. MS Project is not cloud based which makes for access problems, Buildertrend costs something like $99 per project (which is a lot), Podio needs to be built from scratch, but it's really customizable, and Smartsheet is just a spreadsheet with more features. 

Just for reference, these may also be worth looking at, please take a look at them and then choose the best for YOU. All of them will have strengths and weaknesses and none will do EVERYTHING that you need:

• Zoho Projects
• Wrike
• Podio
• Smartsheet
• Builder Trend
• MS Project 
• Basecamp 
• Teamwork

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind, especially if you are working in a team:

• Cloud based PM software allows for easy collaboration and access anywhere
• Don't suffer from "Shiny Object Syndrome" (just pick one and go, yes, there will always be a newer, fancier one, but constantly worrying about it will give you analysis paralysis and you just need to get your projects done)
• Make sure it has a mobile app so you can work on the go
• Don't spend too much money! Podio at $9 a month / user, plus Google Sheets is a good bargain for us, and we have as many as 25 rehabs going at one time. 

Hope that helps!

-James