Hiring a competent contractor is crucial when you are setting up a business. However, like every other investment you will be making, there are a number of things you should consider when hiring a commercial contractor.
You need to be well aware of the contractor’s experience, usual rates, Payment method, and a lot of other things so that you can ensure top quality service. Afterall, this is your establishment and you want to make sure you do everything right.
What is a Contractor?
Let’s say you are starting a business for the first time and someone asks you to hire a contractor. You might be wondering what a contractor is and how they are useful.
According to CHAS, contractors are “professionals who provide skills and services to a company for a set period of time.” To further simplify this for you, a contractor is a professional who will be able to provide you with materials and services for a project you will be working on. A contractor can be hired for many kinds of jobs. For example, if you are planning on renovating your bathroom and giving it a new look, you should hire a bathroom remodelling contractor to get the work done within a timeframe and budget.
For this article, we will be talking about how to hire a contractor who specialises in dealing with commercial spaces or estates.
Things to Consider When Hiring a Contractor / Contracting Company
So, what do you need to look into when trying to find the right person or company for the job? Here are some of the most important things to bear in mind.
Reputation
Whenever you decide to hire a contracting company or individual contractor, it is your responsibility to know how reputable they are by looking out for client feedback. If you see that the contractors in question have good reviews from clients, then it’s an indicator that they are trustworthy. A quick google search can help you find all the information you need on the contractor you are looking to hire.
However, don’t rely solely on reviews that you come across on the internet. Of course they help give you an insight about their past services, but they are still just statements made on the internet which cannot be traced or verified. It’s best if you contact other business owners and inquire about the contractors’ services.
The bottom line is: you should come to a decision after you gather information on the contractors from both online and offline sources. You also want to make sure the contractor is licensed. The last thing you want is to hire someone who doesn’t even have a license to be handling business projects.
Experience
A contractor or contracting company may have good reviews, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they have the kind of experience that you will need.
When you first sit down to consult with them, you should ask whether or not they are capable enough to deal with a project. They must be experienced enough to meet the demand, size, and deadlines of your business venture.
Some contractors will tell you they don’t have the experience, but will try to assure you that they can successfully oversee your project. Remember, it’s always better to trust someone who knows what they are doing or have at least worked on a project that’s similar (if not the same) to yours in the past rather than someone who’s willing to wing it. At the end of the day, you will be the one to bear the losses, so be weary of such situations.
Working Efficiency
The next thing you need to consider is the working efficiency of the contractor and his work force. Are they willing to get started as soon as the planning phase is over or do they need more time to prepare? How quickly and immaculately can they finish the project? Make sure you go into detailed discussions about these factors.
Responsiveness and Communication
The key to a successful commercial or business project is communication. Your contractor should be able to not only put forward plans and ideas for the project that you have in mind, but also be able to respond to all your questions and clear up any problems in a rational manner. This way you won’t end up running into any confusion in the future.
Good communication between you and the contractor opens ways for them to get through the project smoothly, as both of you will know when to contact each other and how to tackle any potential crisis.
Good Customer Service
Aside from good communication and responsiveness, another key factor that makes for a good contracting company is their customer service. The customer care service employees should be well-informed and polite. They should know how to solve your queries and relay your feedback to the correct person within the company.
Organizational Skills and Attention to Detail
Any good contractor has impeccable organizational skills. Putting together an outline for a construction project of a commercial space is tedious work. It usually encompasses due dates, materials, expenses, and plan changes made along the way.
In addition to all that, projects like these often contain many minute details. So on top of being very organized, your contractor must be able to pay close attention to all the details in order to produce impeccable results.
Affordability
Last and probably the most important thing to note is the cost of hiring a particular contractor or contracting company.
A commercial space contains numerous levels, many different rooms, and equipment which are needed for the business. It’s no secret that projects like these are expensive, and you need to make sure you’re investing the right amount of money. Speaking to many contractors will help you find one that fits perfectly with the budget you have in mind.
Be weary of two things – contractors who offer a price that’s either lower than usual or higher than usual. If the costs are temptingly low, then it’s probably too good to be true; chances are you are being set up for mediocre services and added costs in the future. Sometimes the services might be overpriced and you should also avoid these if possible. There are probably contractors out there who will settle for lower with the same or better services. So make sure you do your research (as suggested in the beginning) beforehand.
As a business owner, experienced or not, finding a good contractor can sometimes be overwhelming. There are times when the price for hiring them is perfect, but their services aren’t the best or vice versa. Finding the perfect balance is difficult but, with a little persistence, you can get what you are looking for. Good luck on your future business endeavors!
