Looking to hire a general contractor for an upcoming commercial project? Planning and executing a commercial construction project is no easy task, but the right general contractor can ensure that the work is done in a manner that meets your expectations as the project owner.
To see if a particular commercial general contractor is the right fit for your project, you should prepare a list of questions you can ask them when you're interviewing them for the job. If they tick most or all of the boxes, you can proceed to hire them with trust and confidence.
Highlighted below are some questions you should ask to get to know your contractor a little better.
Are They Insured?
Working at a construction site is inherently dangerous and accidents can happen any time, even if there are safety measures and systems in place. By undertaking to manage work from start to finish, general contractors take huge risks.
To help minimize these risks, they are expected to have adequate insurance to protect themselves and their clients against financial losses that may occur if someone faces bodily injury or property damage in the workplace.
When you're interviewing a prospective contractor, find out if they are insured. If they are, ask which types of insurance they carry. Only hire them if they carry insurance that provides adequate protection in the event of a peril.
How Long Will They Take To Complete Your Job?
Successful projects are time-bound, meaning that they should be started and finished within a specific timeline. When you're hiring a commercial general contractor, ask them when they can start and how much time they will require to deliver your project.
If you're satisfied with their answer, enquire how they intend to manage schedules and keep tasks on track. The last thing you want to happen is for your project to run past the deadline, potentially resulting in budget overruns.
What Guarantee Will They Offer On Their Workmanship?
Good general contractors understand that their clients deserve good value for their money and require more than verbal assurances of quality and performance. Ask your contractor if they are willing to back up their claims of delivering quality services by providing you with a workmanship guarantee. Any good contractor shouldn't mind this.
How Much Will They Charge For Their Services?
Before committing to hiring a particular contractor, you should know the cost of their services. They should be willing to provide you with a free no-obligation quote for consideration.
The commercial general contractor you hire will wear many hats, so finding the right one for you will help make your project a success. Asking the questions at your interview with prospective contractors will increase your chances of getting the best contractor for your needs.