Key Takeaways

• The first key to finding a commercial contractor is to make sure they have relevant experience with projects like yours.
• Vague proposals and overly optimistic timelines are two red flags that a potential contractor might be in over their head.
• Hammers Construction, Inc. brings decades of experience to your commercial building project. 

Adding a construction project to your business operations will add stress and hours to your workload. Commercial contractors understand project complexities and how they can affect your business. Choosing the right contractor not only ensures you end up with a beautiful, functional finished product, but also that the process causes as little disruption to your business as possible.

Committed commercial contractors understand that they must take on much of the load for you regarding budget control, scheduling, communication, quality, and overall project management. 

Choosing the right commercial contractor for your project and business is key to launching the project on the right foot and seeing it through to a successful conclusion.

Start with Relevant Commercial Construction Experience

The key word in this section is relevant. Commercial construction encompasses a vast array of building projects. Ensure your contractor has experience matching the size, purpose, and complexity of your project. 

Building requirements and regulations vary greatly between a small office building and a multi-acre manufacturing facility. Health-care facility construction requires different skills and expertise than retail spaces. 

You don’t need to rely on a contractor to learn on the job about the vital features of your specific building type. 

Review the Contractor’s Portfolio and Qualifications

Once you understand how potential contractors can meet your needs, reviewing their past projects gives you a great opportunity to better understand how they work and how they can ease the burden on you and your staff. Discuss with previous clients how they feel about the quality of workmanship, attention to budget, similarities and differences in their projects, reaction to complexities, and communication throughout the process. 

You also gain a greater understanding of the contractor by confirming their bonding, licensing, and insurance. Also, determine their professional affiliations, which indicate a commitment to professionalism.

Evaluate Communication and Project Management

From the first conversation, you’ll gain a sense of how your potential contractors communicate. No part of the process or project is more important than good communication among your staff, your contractor, and all other involved parties. 

Make sure you establish solid communication lines with the project manager and site supervisor from the opening meeting. You can gauge their communication skills through timely responses, detailed questions about the specific projects, clear explanations of their process, and realistic expectations regarding budget, scope, and timeline.

Look for Transparent Budgeting and Scheduling

A highly qualified commercial contractor will understand the complexities that go into budgeting for a commercial project. They will be willing to discuss with great detail such issues as scope, allowances, exclusions, and change procedures. They will also present transparent payment terms that align with project phases.

They will prepare a realistic schedule that accounts for potential obstacles such as permitting, inspections, subcontractor coordination, procurement, and long-lead materials. 

Consider the Contractor’s Preconstruction Capabilities

Commercial projects run smoother when contractors join early because they bring the skills and experience to anticipate roadblocks and offer solutions that support a realistic schedule. 

Site reviews, feasibility planning, conceptual estimating, constructability analysis, value engineering, and permit planning, when aided by an experienced contractor, create the best opportunity to establish a reasonable budget and schedule before any shovel hits the ground. 

Ask about Subcontractors, Suppliers, and Reputation

Subcontractor and supplier relationships play a key role in any complex construction project. Having the proper people and products on the job site at the right time is the only way to keep a project on schedule and on budget. 

As you conduct due diligence when evaluating contractors, pay attention to how they communicate with suppliers and subcontractors about workmanship, budget, problem-solving, and post-project support. 

Understand How Changes and Project Closeout Are Managed

Even in a dream world, no construction project extends from start to finish without unexpected conditions and design changes along the way. A qualified commercial contractor will offer a clearly defined change order process that allows the project to stay on time and within budget. 

Equally important is a commitment to a professional closeout procedure, including inspections, punch-list completion, warranties, project documentation, and building system information. 

Questions to Ask Before Hiring a Commercial Contractor

Asking the right questions will address many of the issues discussed above to your satisfaction. No reputable commercial contractor will be unprepared or afraid to provide straightforward answers to these questions:

• Can you provide a list of three/four similar projects and contacts?
• Who will be in charge of day-to-day project management?
• How do you handle and communicate budget tracking?
• What is your process for schedule communication?
• How do you perform subcontractor selection and evaluation?
• Will you implement a detailed change procedure?
• What support do you provide after construction is complete?

Common Warning Signs Owners Should Recognize

You may not need to hire a commercial contractor several times throughout your career, so you should be aware of common warning signs that a contractor won’t be the right fit for your project:

• Vague proposals
• Poor communication
• Missing credentials
• Unrealistic scheduling promises
• Reluctance to provide references
• Unclear exclusions
• Pressure to make a quick decision

Your instincts likely will start flashing if any of these scenarios play out while you are conducting the contracting process, but if you’re not familiar with the industry, you might overlook some trepidation. DON’T! 

When you don’t feel comfortable with your potential commercial contractor from the first steps, you can be sure that the last steps will be unsatisfying as well. 

Choose a Contractor Who Understands Your Business Goals

The surest way to get the outcome you desire in your commercial construction experience is to hire a contractor who understands your business goals. When you establish strong communication with your potential contractor, you will feel confident in the outcome. Trust their experience, transparency, planning, and accountability to ensure the final product meets your expectations and your business’ needs.

Hammers Construction, Inc. has built a reputation for meeting and exceeding our clients’ desires. Schedule an appointment with our commercial construction experts today to learn how we can work hand in hand with you on your exciting venture.