14 Mistakes to Avoid when Hiring a Construction Company
When you’re looking to build a new home or commercial property, you’ll need to hire a construction company to help complete the job. Construction companies have their own processes and standards when hiring new employees. It’s not as simple as just sending your resume and waiting for an interview. A construction company is a professional business that hires its own staff to handle various aspects of construction projects.
They will often specialize in an area of construction, such as carpentry, plumbing or electrical work, and the staff that they hire will reflect these specialties. When it comes time to hire a construction company, you’ll need to be prepared with specific details on what kind of services you want them to provide so that there aren’t any misunderstandings later on.
Choose the Right Company
Anyone can start up a construction company. That doesn’t mean that these companies are equipped to provide you with the services that you need. You need to be able to trust that the company you choose has the experience, licensing and insurance coverage to get the job done right. When choosing a construction company, consider how long they’ve been in business and how many projects they’ve completed.
You can also check online reviews to see what other customers have to say about their experiences with the company you’re considering hiring. When you’re hiring a construction company, make sure that they don’t just specialize in one area of construction. You want someone who understands all aspects of the process and can handle any situation that may arise.
Ask Around
Before you start contacting construction companies and scheduling interviews, it’s a good idea to get in touch with current customers. Find out what their experience with the company was like, and ask if they’d be willing to act as a reference.
You can also ask friends, family members and business associates if they have any recommendations for a construction company to hire.
Hiring a construction company can be overwhelming
Construction companies specialize in different fields of construction, so you’ll want to hire one that has experience in the type of construction you’ll need. For instance, if you need a roofer to replace your roof, you’ll want to find a roofing construction company. If you need an electrician to install lighting, you’ll need to hire an electrical construction company.
You’ll also want to consider the cost of hiring a general construction company versus hiring a specialty construction company. General construction companies may be able to offer more varied services for a lower price, but you risk being paired with substandard workers in certain areas of your construction project. Specialty construction companies often employ experts in their fields and can provide a higher-quality, more reliable service, but at a higher price.
Don’t be afraid to ask for References
A construction company that doesn’t have any past clients will find it difficult to get future clients. You should never hire a construction company that can’t provide you with at least a couple of references. Make sure to call these references and ask them questions about their experience with the company. Was the company reliable? Were they thorough in their work? Did they finish the project on time?
If a construction company has no past clients to provide you with references, you may want to explore hiring another company. You’re taking a risk by hiring a company that has no track record, and if their services are subpar, you have no one to hold accountable. If you do find a construction company that has no references, try to press them for information about why they don’t have past clients. More often than not, you’ll discover that the company just doesn’t have any references because they’re new to the business.
Be wary of signing blank contracts or hiring a company on commission only
There are two types of contracts that a construction company may ask you to sign—a letter of intent and a construction contract. The letter of intent is a promise to hire the company to complete a construction project. You sign the letter of intent when you’re not ready to hire the company yet, but you’re interested in their services.
The construction contract is the document that officially hires the company to complete your project. When you sign a letter of intent, make sure that it has a date specified on it. The date should be when you intend to hire the company to complete your project. If you wait too long to hire the company, they may tell you that you’ve waited too long and that you’re no longer legally bound to hire them. When you sign a construction contract, make sure that it includes details about the work the company is supposed to perform, the amount of time they have to complete the work and what happens if they don’t finish on time.
Don’t pay any upfront fees until you’re absolutely certain
This is a mistake that a lot of homeowners make. They hire a construction company, and then the company asks for an upfront fee. A construction company may ask you to pay an upfront fee, and that’s fine. But you should never pay an upfront fee without knowing what you’re getting in return.
For instance, a construction company may ask you to pay an upfront fee, such as $1,000, so they can buy the supplies they need to complete your job. You should only pay this upfront fee if you’re absolutely certain that you’re going to hire them to complete the work. If you don’t hire them, you’ve wasted your $1,000. If the company does complete your work, the fee could be applied to your overall budget for the project.
Make sure you know what’s included in your budget, and what isn’t
When you hire a construction company, they will give you a quote for the job. This quote will include the cost of materials and the hourly rate they expect to be paid. This quote will also include an estimated job completion date.
Make sure that you read over and understand every detail of the quote. If you don’t understand something, ask the company to explain it to you. Make sure you know exactly what you’re paying for, and what isn’t included in your budget.
Research the company before giving them your job.
The construction industry is highly regulated. Every contractor and construction company must be licensed and insured0done right.
Write a Detailed Job Description
The first step in hiring a construction company is to write a detailed job description. This should include things such as the size of the project, the start and end date for the project, what materials you want to be used, and how many people will be working on the project.
This will help keep expectations realistic on both sides and prevent any misunderstandings. As the client, you need to be as specific as possible when writing this job description. It’s important to note that the construction company you choose may have their own standards for hiring their staff. If you don’t provide them with the details they need, they may not be able to interview you or hire you for the job.
Don’t be Afraid to Negotiate
When you’re hiring a construction company, you may be entering into a long-term contract. You may feel like you have no room to negotiate, but there may be some wiggle room in the final price that they give you. Construction companies work on a bidding system, so they will provide you with a certain price to complete the job.
This is their best guess on how much they’ll be paid based on the amount of work involved. This number can often be negotiable, so don’t just accept the first price that they give you. If you’re hiring a construction company for a large project, you might be able to get a discount by paying for the services up front.
Check References and Licenses
Any reputable construction company will be happy to provide you with references. If a company is hesitant to give you names and contact information for customers that they’ve worked with in the past, keep looking. A construction company should also have the proper licensing and insurance coverage to get the job done. If a construction company tells you that they are licensed and insured, but you can’t find the proof of this, keep looking.
Make sure you know exactly what you’re hiring for
There will be times when you’ll want to hire a construction company to just to provide assistance with a certain aspect of your project. For example, you may want to hire a plumbing company to replace a broken pipe or hire an electrical contractor to repair a faulty light switch.
When hiring a construction company for one-time assistance, make sure that you understand how they are billing your project.
Don’t let yourself be rushed into making a decision too soon
There are many factors that go into hiring a construction company, including scheduling, cost and quality of work. It’s tempting to want to hire the first company you talk to because you’re eager to get started and see your project come to life. However, you’ll want to be sure that you’re hiring the right company for the job. If a construction company is pressuring you to make a decision, take your time and find the right fit for your project.
Hiring without a Contract is Risky
Your construction company will have their own contract for hiring and providing services, but if you’re hiring a construction company, you should have a contract of your own. If anything goes wrong during the construction process, you’ll want a contract in place that details who is responsible for fixing the issue.
A written contract between you and the construction company will also help prevent any misunderstandings or miscommunications. It’s important to have a contract in place, especially if you’re hiring a general contractor to manage the construction process for you.
Conclusion
No one wants to hire a construction company that is going to wreck the house or the commercial property. You want to hire a construction company that is efficient, cost-effective and reliable. When you’re hiring a construction company, be prepared with a detailed job description and walkthrough. You should also have a list of questions for the company and references from past jobs. When you’re hiring a construction company, make sure that they have proper licensing and insurance coverage and that you have a written contract in place.