Qualities To Look for When Hiring a Construction Company

  • Editorial Team
  • Heavy Construction Equipment
  • 31 May 2022

The success of your entire project depends on the construction company that you choose. That is why it is important when you make the decision that you are careful and weigh all your options. There are certain qualities that you should look for in construction companies that you are thinking of selecting for your project. For instance, if the company you have selected has relevant experience and has previously worked on projects with similar requirements, it will make the construction process a lot smoother.

Construction companies that possess these qualities will have an easier time meeting your project goals.

Working within the Budget

Besides a history of working on similar projects in the past, one thing that most people look for is a construction team that can work within the set budget. However, simply prioritizing costs and overlooking every other aspect of the project is not smart. The construction crew you choose should be able to respect the set budget without overlooking the overall value of the project.

When you are evaluating bids for the project, try to look beyond the cost being offered. If one company bid a lot lower than others, try to figure out why they did. You may be tempted to choose the team offering the lowest bid, but you should stop to consider if they missed something. Making a decision without thinking it through might result in difficulties down the road.

Another thing that you need to consider is whether the company is able and willing to do value engineering. The goal of value engineering is to take away or replace any elements that do not serve the end goal of the project. This should be done while simultaneously increasing its value.

Quality Subcontractors

Subcontractors play an important part in the successful completion of a project. When you are selecting a construction company for your project, make sure that they hire quality subcontractors and assemble the best possible team. The construction company you hire for the job should have experience dealing with the local subcontractor market. A company that is familiar with the quality of work and professionalism of different subcontractors will be able to assemble the best crew.

Construction companies that have well developed relationships of mutual trust with their subcontractors would be able to improve the overall project due to their understanding. Your construction team should also have a process for prequalifying new subcontractors before bringing them on board. This will ensure that the people you are bringing to the worksite are trustworthy.

License, Bonding and Insurance

Make sure that the construction company you are hiring is fully licensed and can work in your state. You can request that they provide you with a copy of their licenses to verify it. Another thing that you should ensure is that the company you are hiring is bonded, so if they are not able to meet the project demands or end up executing it terribly, you will be protected, nonetheless. Also, check to be sure that the construction company has the right amount of liability and property damage insurance. When you are requesting qualifications or a proposal, make sure to ask for insurance certificates and licenses as well.

Commitment to Safety

Executing a project successfully is impossible if your crew is not working safely. Before you hire a crew for your project, make sure that they are committed to safety. Look for safety related markers like EMR or OSHA 300 logs when you are hiring a construction team. Even if a company is committed to safety, there is still a possibility of an accident during construction. However, if these accidents are frequent or you see that similar accidents are happening again and again, it is not a good look.

Ask the company what their safety policy is and whether or not they have a full-time safety officer. Companies that take safety practices seriously usually take time to educate their employees about safety measures and implement them in their work process. Before starting work with a 966H Cat wheel loader for example, they will have their operators and crew properly trained to handle the equipment. These things usually indicate how much a company prioritizes safety.