Only around 31% of construction projects finish within 10% of their original budget. It can have a serious impact on your finances if a commercial design and build company does not have a serious attitude toward your budget. If you have similar concerns, how can you be sure you are hiring the right local people for your commercial builds?
Below, we give you thirteen tips you can use to ensure you are hiring the right commercial design and build services. By the end, you should know how to deal with new commercial contractors as well as how to contact one of the best options for you.
1. Research Local Companies
Before you pick a design and build construction company, you need to do your due diligence in researching local options. Look for businesses that are both well-established with a long history and are also well-known in the area. If you can, try to find people who hire local workers too, to ensure everyone involved has a keen eye for the area and will want to invest in it.
To find such groups, try using online platforms like Google, LinkedIn, and other directories. These list businesses and individuals you can filter down to only what you need.
Other business directories might also help. Do not forget to make good use of standard Google searches, though. If you are lucky, you might even be able to find “Top 10 lists” or similar that describe some of the best local companies in your area. But a word of caution, many “Top 10 lists” are pay-to-play and list the first 10 companies willing to write a check.
Another option you have is your peers. Reach out to colleagues or old contacts you might have for recommendations. If you know anyone who has needed commercial construction services in the past, this would be a perfect option.
2. Check Your Chosen Company’s Credentials
Commercial design and build services need to have the appropriate licenses before they can do work in any given area. Check with any of the options you have and ensure they can have the appropriate credentials to work in Colorado Springs or Denver. This will save you from possible fines or even needing to tear down builds once constructed.
You will also need to ensure that the company has appropriate insurance to start working. If they do not and something goes wrong, this could be disastrous for you, as you may then be liable.
Of course, you should also check that the business is not a scam too. Make sure they have a valid business address and a consistent online presence. You could even visit their physical address location to check for their presence and ensure they do work there.
3. Get Local References
Ask the company for references from the design-build industry and reach out to them. Check with these other companies for confirmation that the business you wish to work with is a solid choice. You can often get a comprehensive review from previous clients or other people they might network with.
When talking to these other people, ask for honest feedback on any challenges they faced during the design and build process. No project finishes without at least one problem. So, knowing how they handled adversity in the past can give you a good idea of how they might moving forward.
4. Evaluate Their Capacity and Capability
Assess their ability to handle the scope and duration of any project you might have for them. Check if they have enough personnel with appropriate qualifications and if said people are available to work with you.
Discuss the ability of in-house teams to work with not only you but anyone else they might have projects for at the same time. Also, ask about previous clients with projects of a similar size to compare your experience with theirs.
5. Check their Portfolio
Look at previous commercial buildings they designed and built. Analyze the variety present in their portfolio and whether they showcase a range of styles and functionalities. Should their projects consistently echo a familiar pattern, it might indicate a specialization in that particular domain of work.
If possible, try to tour around any building they have constructed before. Check out the aesthetics of what they made, and if any issues exist that might not be obvious from a quick glance. Ask the people who use the building if they are aware of a history of problems too.
6. Ask About Their Experience with Local Regulations
When talking with the company, enquire about how familiar they are with building codes and zoning regulations. Ask how they would handle getting appropriate permits to start work. If possible, be specific so you can have the assurance they know what they are doing.
A company that knows the regulatory process well can often even expedite requests. This is because they will both know the process very well, as well as have networked with people in the area of government that could help.
If possible, talk about any challenges they have faced in the past and ask how they dealt with them. This will give you a good idea of their demeanor when coming up against problems. It will also help you understand if they know how to resolve concerns moving forward.
7. Ensure They Communicate Effectively
Part of any good professional relationship is effective communication. As you talk with the business, no matter the format, make sure to gauge what they inform you of and how well they do it. If they decide to hide bad news or over-polish good events, be aware that lack of transparency may continue into the future too.
In your conversations about your project with them, make sure that they grasp all the concepts you’re attempting to convey. It’s possible that certain companies might swiftly agree without truly listening, disregarding a thorough evaluation of your desires. Such groups are prone to requiring additional guidance and could potentially request a larger budget, leading to potential delays down the line.
8. Make Sure They Work to Your Budget
Be honest with the company and talk about your budget, no matter how large or small, without holding anything back. Check for their reaction, and see if they respond with professional candor to your queries and statements once they know what you will spend.
Ask about their previous jobs and find out more if they have completed most jobs within their set budget. If not, you might need to be wary of them overspending.
9. Find an Innovative Team
When it comes to designing your building, make sure you work with a team that values innovation and outside-the-box thinking. Ask about times when they suggested alternative architectural choices to the property owner, as well as how well that turned out.
10. Check the Contract Terms
Prior to finalizing any agreements, request an opportunity to examine the terms and allocate sufficient time for consideration. If you have an attorney available, get them to look over the contract for you to ensure it does not have any unexpected clauses.
It should clearly define what both you and the company are responsible for. You can then use this moving forward to ensure no person ends up with unexpected work. Make sure it also contains sections related to resolving disputes that might come up, which protect all parties.
11. Make Sure They Include You in Decisions
You need to stay in control of this project when possible. As such, you should collaborate on all major decisions or aspects that might impact the use of any building. When discussing the possibility of a company working for you, make sure they know they should include you at all such crossroads.
12. See if They Have Local Experience
When talking to them, make sure they have performed previous work in the Colorado Springs and Denver areas. Ask how the specific nature of the area affected their role and how they offset any issues it brought up.
In theory, a high-quality local company should be able to inform you about local trends and how they might affect designs. They will also have the capability to tell you about logistical challenges and how they resolved them. This can assure you of their commitment to the local area and whether they know what they are doing in that area.
13. Enquire About Their Sustainability Record
Buildings with high sustainability and an eco-friendly design are often able to receive tax benefits. Because of this, you should discuss these possibilities with the company to see if they will help you achieve this style of building.
Experts in Commercial Design Build Services
Together, these tips form a checklist you can use to ensure the commercial design and build service you pick has its affairs in order. You can then move forward with your plans without worrying about such details. Though, if you want to skip the whole “searching for a company” stage, we can help you out.
We are in the Colorado Springs and Denver areas and can work with you to get you the commercial building of your dreams. So, get in contact today to find out why we are one of the best options in the region.