7 Things to Look For in a Great Construction Company
Construction is a complex and ever-changing industry. It’s hard for even the most seasoned construction professional to keep up with all of the latest changes in building codes, materials, or safety regulations. So it can be difficult to tell how good a construction company is by looking at them.
But there are some things you should look for that will help you narrow down your search and find a great company for your needs. So what do you need to know before hiring a construction company? Here are some key construction company qualities to consider.
1. Quality of Work
The first thing you should look for is how well they do their work. You want to know that the company was founded by competent people and has stayed in business long enough to gain experience in the field. This will tell you that they are doing a great job on current projects and have a near-perfect track record of providing high-quality work.
The best way to check this is to look for testimonials from past clients. If they’re not confident in their abilities, they won’t be eager to show off examples of work. You can also look at photos of current projects and try to contact former clients yourself.
You want a company that shows attention to detail, uses safety precautions correctly, works without sacrificing quality, and will return if you need any repairs or additional work done.
Also, check out these things to consider when choosing a custom home builder.
2. Construction Management Experience
Another thing to check when you want to hire a construction company is experience managing larger projects. You want someone who has experience making decisions and can tell you what is needed when. You don’t want to have any surprises or unnecessary costs along the way.
Construction management experience can be hard to find, especially if you’re looking for someone who has experience in your area. You can test this by asking questions and looking at their past projects. If they have run other successful projects without problems, then you should feel comfortable hiring them.
If a company has good management experience but poor quality control, its overall performance may not be as good. A construction manager needs to know how to get work done well on-site while still ensuring it meets the owner’s expectations and stays within budget.
3. Cost
Next, you want to look at the total cost of hiring a company. This includes hourly rates for employees, any additional fees like taxes or travel expenses. There are also fees for additional materials, permits, inspections, etc.
It’s best to ask about all of these things in advance to know what your final costs will be.
If a company is significantly less expensive than their competitors but doesn’t explain why it may signify that they are paying their employees below market rate and using lower-quality materials. These “bargain deals” may seem enticing at first glance but can end up costing you much more in the long run.
4. On-Site Safety
It should go without saying that on-site safety is of the utmost importance during construction. But accidents can and do happen, no matter how careful you are. So it’s crucial to choose a company that follows all laws tightly and invests in high-quality safety gear and training for their employees.
Look at photos of current job sites to find out what kind of safety precautions they use, like Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), scaffolding, or hard hats. You also want to make sure workers are using OSHA-approved technologies if any hazardous materials are being used.
5. The Cost of Materials
Materials should be another major factor in your decision when choosing a construction company. You need enough quality material to get the job done but not too much to go over budget. And you need to make sure they’re using materials that will last a long time.
Examine current photos of projects to see if workers are using quality building supplies, including tools and appliances. If they are, and they have managed other projects successfully in the past, then you can probably trust them to use quality materials on your job.
A reputable company should be willing to put together a detailed list of materials with prices before you hire them. This way, you know what everything will cost beforehand instead of getting surprise invoices along the way.
6. Permits and Inspections
If your home needs any permits or inspections during construction, make sure you know if it’s in-house or an outside contractor who needs to handle it. You should ideally want someone who has done this kind of work before so they can handle all the paperwork.
Almost all states have laws surrounding these things, and regulations can vary significantly by city or county. So it’s always better if you know what to expect so you can budget for them along the way.
7. Insurance
Although it’s not a deal-breaker, you’ll want to check on the insurance coverage before signing any contracts. The last thing you want is to be held responsible for an unfinished project due to unforeseen circumstances like injuries or fire damage.
Construction companies should have general liability and workers’ compensation policies in place. However, you might need to ask about these things specifically when choosing a company.
With that said, some smaller companies may have fewer protections than others because of their size and location. If that’s the case with your contractor, make sure they have an excellent record of safety and that they are very thorough on their preparation before starting the project.
Hiring a Construction Company Simplified
Using a reputable residential contractor is essential for any home improvement project. Whether large or small, you’ll want to make sure that the construction company has done this kind of work before and that their employees are well trained in what they do.
These are several things you should look for when choosing your team. You can then be confident that your home will turn out exactly how you pictured it.
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