As you can probably guess, a commercial contractor specializes in commercial construction. A general contractor is involved in all steps of commercial construction, typically handling public and private projects, from school construction to buildings, commercial space, and more. They are responsible for overseeing a number of tasks, including permitting, design, purchasing, building industry code compliance, and compliance with state laws and regulations.
When it comes to selecting a top-tier commercial general contractor, you need to be extra careful because there’s a lot of money at stake. In this post, we’ll talk about the things that need your attention to find a reliable commercial general contractor.
Start with the basics:
You cannot work with any random contractor you find online. Start by looking for licensed companies that have a good name in the local market. If a company claims to be the best in business or has worked on many projects, it will have enough clients. They should be able to provide references on request, which broadly informs about their portfolio. You need to understand the nature and range of projects they have completed so far, and whether they can handle your project, taking into account scope and other aspects.
Ask for an offer:
It is important to contact at least three or four commercial general contractors for the same job. You should check if your prices and offers are fair and transparent. Bids must be detailed in all respects, and you may need to verify what is included in the proposal sent to you and what is excluded. Make sure that all the offers are made around the same scope of work, otherwise it would mean that the comparison applies to bananas, which is not the ideal way to proceed.
Communication issues:
No matter how small or large your project is, communication with your commercial contractor is more than important. If you’re happy with the offer, ask them about the development process and find the reasons why you should hire the company in the first place. The company in question should explain their approach to work, so you can understand their areas of expertise. It is advisable to use some of your projects as a reference point in your conversations, so that the general process of discussion stays in the same vein.
Meet your team:
A contracting company usually has a team of professionals who help decide many management considerations. You need to know the team that will be working on your project and whether they are good at maintaining client relationships. Feel free to ask questions, no matter how stupid they may seem, as long as your queries are relevant to the project. You can also ask them about their work ethics and practices and what sets them apart from other companies in the same industry.
Check these things out, and finding a commercial contractor shouldn’t take long.