You’ve finally been given the green light for several repairs this year at your high-traffic facility. You can name the exact areas that need restoration or expansion off the top of your head. You know your price point. You know the job. Now to find the contractor. Let’s discuss some great tips for finding the right contractor for the job without jumping through hoops or chasing rabbit trails.
1. Unless you HAVE to rush, don’t.
Take your time choosing the right contractor. If you can afford to take the time to entertain different contractors, do it. Get to know the individuals you will be communicating with about the job before you sign a contract. Ensure that they listen, respect, and understand you and the task at hand.
2. Do your research.
Nothing can shut down a company faster than OSHA. Do your research and check the background of the company. The lower price tag may draw you in, but if they have a history of OHSA violations or injuries—steer clear, it could prove to be a dangerous move for your time, your money, and their employees. For information on how to research contractors, go click on the link in the comments.
3. Price reflects quality.
Your supervisors may be pressing you to find that “golden egg”: low price, high quality, and completed without delay. Between good, fast, and cheap you can usually pick two: good and cheap- won’t be fast; fast and good- won’t be cheap; cheap and fast- won’t be good. Walk into this with realistic expectations- but don’t settle.
4. Keep it professional.
We often want to help our family and friends first, but not many of us understand the strain this can put on relationships if things go awry. When you seek out professionals who aren’t “in the family,” you’ll be able to keep an appropriate distance that avoids hurt feelings and emotions. While you may feel guilty turning Uncle Dave down on the job, it will prevent future complications in the relationship.
5. Keep a paper trail.
Phone conversations allow for a certain level of transparency, but having a paper trail can be invaluable. E-mails may seem monotonous, but it can provide you with proof of communication (or miscommunication) and so much more. Furthermore, insure that proper protocol is recorded, safety contracts are signed, contractors are checking in and out of the sign-in log, etc. These may seem unnecessary but can become incredibly handy if something unfortunate happens along the way.
6. Go with your gut.
Don’t ignore that little guy in your stomach telling you to steer clear of a contractor who seems fitting for the job. According to an article by Geil Browning on Inc.com, our brains are constantly working for us, “Our brains record it all; every meeting, client interaction, presentation, and personal decision. With every experience, the cache of information our brains have at their disposal grows.” Take advantage of your intuition. Make it work for you. For more information on this, check out Browning’s article linked in the comments.
All in all, finding a contractor for a job, big or small, can seem like a daunting task- especially if you have little to no experience with this, but with a little persistence, some intuition, and serious Googling, you should be able to land yourself a stellar contractor who you can trust. Your contractor’s work will reflect on you. Let’s make sure you look good.