- Choosing the right construction company for your project is a challenging task. You must have to do a lot of research to find the perfect company that’s the best fit for your project. Many companies use the latest technology like Bridgit for resource management. But there’s more you need to discover before finalizing your decision.
You already know that a construction project is a combination of various activities. Planning, budgeting, scheduling, subcontracting, and procurement are some of them. Each activity must have at least one expert in that field to efficiently execute the tasks.
So, here are the eight factors you must consider while choosing the right construction company.
Table of Contents
1. Experience
You must have observed that the more experienced a construction company is, the more projects it wins. Clients look for an experienced contractor or company for their projects.
Experience is indeed a big factor that makes a company highly valuable in the industry. The experience is a collective cumulation of the following construction aspects:
- Successful projects – Number of construction projects completed by a company.
- Delivery quality – Each deliverable determines the overall project quality.
- Clients’ feedback – The clients’ satisfaction level.
You can see the company’s experience by visiting its websites. Many construction companies also display the portfolio of their past projects. Each project has a quality rating and client feedback.
Some companies also share the client’s contact details upon their consent. So, you can ask them about the company’s performance throughout the project and decide.
2. Construction team
Construction is not a one-man mission. Instead, it requires a team to put in effort collectively and share the outcome. So, you must thoroughly check the construction team while choosing a company for your project.
The team must have the right skill and qualifications have the right types of excavator buckets. For example, you can check whether the company’s construction team has certified civil engineers. In addition, you can check the team’s introduction and verify who are degree holders and their past experience.
Similarly, the construction company must have a quality control team for each milestone. These professionals check the quality of the following:
- Materials
- Measurements
- Safety
Construction quality experts have the authority to inspect the overall project quality. They are also held accountable if there’s an inaccurate measurement.
So, ensure the construction company you are looking for has the complete team with the proper skill set.
3. License
Check the contractor’s license while looking for the right construction company. Many companies show their licensure on their websites. However, you must verify if they are showing the correct license because the requirements vary from state to state.
The best approach is to ask the contractor or the company to send a copy of their license. Remember to professionally ask for the license to keep the construction deal intact.
Once you receive the license, check its validity through the respective construction or development authority.
If the construction license is expired or not genuine, the authority might cease your project and penalize you with heavy fines. The company will also be blacklisted, and contractors might be sent to jail for the construction offense.
4. Your budget
You must consider your construction budget while choosing the right company for your project. Besides, you must never prioritize cost as the only factor in hiring a construction company.
You must research companies’ pricing thoroughly and determine the differences in the services they offer. If you find a company offering a strangely low package, you must dive deep into its construction history.
Why is that company offering the lowest bid? How is that company different from other competitors? Will it cut corners during the project?
If you see such a cost-efficient proposal, you must find answers to every question.
5. Subcontractors
Most companies bring their own subcontractors on board for the project as it’s time-saving. Hiring old subcontractors is also cost-efficient because companies don’t have to bargain with the old construction team. You can see the list of subcontractors that the companies hire on their websites.
However, those subcontractors might not be aware of working on a complex construction project. You can interview their leader and find out their competency level.
Remember that companies don’t tend to hire new subcontractors for a new project because it costs them more. So, you must stay alert about who will work on your project’s core construction activities.
6. Safety and risk plans
According to the OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration), around 47% of fatal injuries occurred at the construction site, which is the highest rate in any workplace.
So, you must ask for the workers’ safety plan and risk mitigation strategies from the potential contractor or construction company.
You can also ask for previous projects’ risk plans to determine the workers’ condition. A sound safety and risk plan is mandatory, especially if you are hiring for a construction project.
7. References and reviews
Find references and reviews about the company, which will help you make a sound decision. While looking for references, you can contact other clients and listen to what they say about the company’s performance.
You can ask different questions related to the following factors:
- Professionalism – Does that company professionally execute each construction activity?
- Technology – Does the company use the right technology to manage its projects?
- Communication – How does the company communicate with its clients?
The reviews will tell a lot about a construction company. So, invest some time searching the company’s references and reviews.
8. Value
Lastly, the company you choose for your construction project must value your requirements. Providing a valuable service is beyond money. It’s about your vision regarding the construction.
While interviewing potential contractors and managers, you can ask them how they provide their construction services. You can also create a scenario to understand their approach to working on a project.
So, ensure you articulate your construction goals to the company so that you can get a valuable return.
Conclusion
There are over thousands of companies working in the US construction industry. But not every company is suitable for your project requirements. Therefore, you must follow the above eight factors to choose the right construction company and complete your project.