Understanding Your Project Needs
The first thing to take into account is exactly what kind of project you will be embarking on. For example, if you are looking to have a new roof put on your house, you will want to search for a company that specializes in roof repairs.
It is very important to get a good idea of exactly what you are trying to achieve by hiring a contractor, as the quality of construction they are able to produce for you will only be as good as their knowledge in that specific area.
Looking into Reviews and Conducting Research
After figuring out exactly what it is that you need done, it’s time to begin searching for potential contractors. One of the best ways to narrow the large pool of potential choices is to seek the recommendations of other people who have gone through the same process as you are embarking on.
If you have any friends, family or other business partners who have had experience hiring a quality construction contractor for a similar project you can ask them to recommend you a company who has provided great work for them.
Another great option for seeking out qualified candidates is searching online through search engines, professional associations or online directories to find contact information and reviews for reputable contractors.
Evaluating Credentials and Experience
Once you have found some potential options you’ll want to go through each one and check out a few key points regarding their credentials and experience. First and foremost, any contractor performing work for your projects should hold the correct licenses and certifications for the specific kind of job they are doing. For example, electricians should be licensed with their state in order to legally conduct work.
Similarly, be sure to find out if the contractor has the proper insurance coverage for their business and employees to avoid legal and financial problems. An uninsured contractor working on your property could leave you footing the bill in the event of damages caused on the job. It may also be illegal to hire an uninsured contractor leading to fines imposed on you.
Equally important is taking a look into past work completed by each contractor and viewing their portfolio if one exists. In doing this you can get a better idea of the type of work they are capable of and see if it matches your expectations.
Assessing Professionalism: Organization, Presentation and Punctuality
While ensuring that a contractor will be capable of providing you quality construction, you will want to be sure to gauge their communication style as well. There’s nothing worse than a contractor who you can’t get a hold of when you have important details to discuss.
Preparing a list of questions to ask your potential contractors is imperative, as this will give you the opportunity to gather the specific information that you need in regards to your project. These can include things like their estimated timeline, how they plan to tackle the job and if they will be hiring any subcontractors.
Take note of how they present themselves and their business. Do their responses arrive in a timely manner? Do they take the time to answer your questions fully and in a professional way? These things are important as they will give you a glimpse into the kind of communication you will receive during the construction process.
Reviewing Quotes and Contracts
At the end of your discussions with various contractors, it’s time to request some quotes. Be sure to specify that you want as detailed of a quote as possible based on the information you have provided each contractor.
Upon receiving all of the quotes you can then begin the process of comparing each one. Not only should you be looking at the total amount estimated at the bottom of the quote, but take a look at each quote and view how they arrived at that number. See how each contractor decided to break down the estimate based on their timelines, the materials they plan to use and exactly what they say they will be doing.
When all is said and done, a contract will be drafted stating important factors in regards to the project. These include expected payment schedules, their estimated timeline, what kind of work they plan on performing and any warranties that may be included in their service.
It is paramount that you pay close attention to the details of the contract. Be sure that everything looks as discussed as to prevent any surprises later down the road. A solid contract will also provide details outlining what will happen in the event that the scope of your project changes and a clause of termination in the event that the contractors do not live up to your expectations or some other unforeseen circumstance arises.
Trust Your Instincts
At the end of the day, you should feel comfortable and confident in your decision to hire a certain contractor. If you don’t feel that they can provide you with the quality construction that you want or that something is just off, it’s better to walk away.
Following the steps outlined in this post will help you to make a great decision when it comes to hiring a quality construction contractor. The process isn’t necessarily the easiest but taking the time to find a great contractor will make a world of difference by giving you peace of mind and ensuring that you end up with quality work.
Making the whole process feel easy and intuitive is what we do here at Precision Design & Build.
