When you’re planning a commercial construction project, you want to be confident in the company you are choosing for your project. You can gain this confidence by thoroughly vetting the companies you are considering. You want to completely research everything you can so that you know that the commercial construction company you’ve chosen is the right one for your particular project.
At CLH Building Group, we want to make this easier for you. That’s why we’re sharing these top 10 questions to ask when hiring a commercial construction company .
Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Commercial Construction Company
1. How Long Have You Been in Business?
While all companies need to start somewhere, you want to hire a company that has experience. Commercial construction projects can become very complicated. That’s why you want to have someone who has had experience in the field. Ask how many years the company has been doing commercial work and if they have done projects that are similar to yours. This should give you a good idea of whether they are qualified for your project and whether you feel comfortable hiring them.
2. Are You Licensed, Bonded, and Insured?
You want to hire a commercial construction company that is licensed, bonded, and insured. This will help to protect your project and help to maintain safety standards. Hiring someone without these qualifications can lead to poor work as well as hazardous conditions.
3. What Makes You Different Than Your Competitors?
You don’t want to hire a cookie-cutter company for your project. Ask the contractor you’re considering what makes them stand out among the competition. Is it their quality of work? Their team members? Their commitment to quality work? There should be something that sets them apart and would make you want to hire them over the competition. If there isn’t, then you may want to continue looking for another contractor.
4. Do You Guarantee Your Work?
When you hire a company to do your project, you want them to stand by their work. Any company that doesn’t offer to do that is suspicious. Ask about warranties and what they do if something they’ve worked on becomes defective. While no one wants that to happen, in reality, it can. Being prepared is better than being caught off guard and left with a project that is deteriorating.
5. Can You Provide References?
If your commercial construction contractor is reputable, they should have references that they are more than willing to share with you. Ask about these references as well as view their portfolio of work. This way you can not only hear from past customers but also see the work they’ve completed. If you are satisfied with both, then it is a good indication that you may have found the contractor for your project.
6. Do You Have a Project Timeline?
While projects can get off course, it’s important that your contractor has some idea of how the project will go. You want to have a timeline so that you can make plans and be aware of the various steps of your project. Also, ask if the contractor builds in extra time for uncontrollable events like the weather. This way, your project is more likely to get done on time, and even possibly early if everything stays on track and goes well.
If it seems as though your contractor’s timeline is too good to be true, be skeptical and ask more questions. Some companies like to make big promises to lure in customers. In the end, they can’t deliver and many problems can arise. At CLH Building Group, we are completely upfront about our project timeline and are in constant communication with our clients about the status of their projects.
7. What are Your Safety Processes?
Safety is priority number one on a construction site. Ask to see the company’s safety policy and be sure that it is just as important to them as it is to you. If the commercial construction company shrugs off safety or is not transparent in its practices, this is a red flag to move on. You don’t want them to compromise the safety of their employees or anyone else on the job site.
8. Are the Project Costs Fixed or Estimated?
An experienced commercial construction company should be able to accurately estimate the costs of your project. They typically have ties with suppliers so they can better guarantee prices. You want to ask whether the proposal they are presenting includes costs that are fixed or estimated. Obviously, you would prefer the costs to be fixed so that you know how much the project will cost and have a better chance of staying on budget.
9. What is the Payment Schedule?
Don’t be afraid to ask what the payment schedule is for your project. These details matter so that you can stay on top of your project and can be better prepared. Ask what the terms are and how much money is due at what intervals of the project. Everyone needs to be on the same page when it comes to payments.
10. Why Should I Choose Your Company?
Any commercial construction company you’re considering should be able to give you several reasons why you should choose their company. It may seem like a simple question, but some companies may pause when you ask it. You want to hire a company that is confident in its ability and knows right away why you should choose them.
Hire CLH Building Group for Your Next Commercial Construction Project
When you are planning a commercial construction project in the Wilmington, NC area CLH Building Group can get the job done. Our team of professionals has the experience you can rely on. Safety is always a priority as we strive for 100% customer satisfaction. Don’t just take our word for it. Explore our gallery of completed projects so you can see some of the work firsthand. Call us today at (910) 367-5124 to learn more about our commercial construction and other services in the Wilmington area.