When choosing a contractor for commercial construction, it’s important to choose someone you can rely on and whom you can have confidence in. Too often in the market today, deals are made and public bids awarded based on price alone, with no thought given to the integrity of the company with whom their investing. If you’re considering partnering with a general contractor, here are some thoughts to consider.
Response Time. How long do you spend waiting for your requests or questions to be answered? Do you find yourself unsure of when your messages will be returned? Your contractor should everything possible to ensure ease of communication and to provide a quick response time. After all, you’re paying for a service, not just the labor.
Quality. During a building project, especially when deadlines are beginning to grow closer, it can be tempting for some contractors to begin cutting corners and veering off the plans in order to speed up the project. However, any contractor with ethics and who values quality knows that this is not a sustainable business practice. Construction quality and safety should never be compromised to either increase speed or to cut costs. Quality is worth the effort and you deserve nothing less in your dealings with your contractor.
Reachability. How easy does your general contractor make it to get ahold of them when you have questions regarding your project? How many people do you have to go through? Is it difficult to get a status update? You shouldn’t have to go in endless circles in order to find the information you need. The company you partner with needs to have the ability to make communication easy and accessible, without a lot of hurdles in between.
No vanity. When choosing a contractor, it’s important to remember that you are hiring them, not the other way around. Too many contractors seem to lose their way as they grow in size. It’s important to find a contractor who values their customer and leaves all pretense at the door. There are small jobs, but no small customers.
If you are considering building contractors for your next project, keep these tips in mind and call our office in Joplin, MO for a consultation. We look forward to hearing from you.