21 Questions To Ask A Commercial Construction Company

21 Questions To Ask A Commercial Construction Company.

Are you looking for a construction company but are in a dilemma about what to ask them?

Don’t worry! In this article, we will discuss which questions you should ask a commercial company before hiring them.

Hiring a contractor or commercial company is a truly complicated task, especially in current times. There are many construction companies competing in the market, so it is natural to get overwhelmed and confused. Not all contractors will suit you. Considering all your options and choosing the best from them is important for your construction project.

Everyone wants to find the best fit. Therefore, before hiring, you must ask the following questions for complete satisfaction and surety.

1. Brief me about your business.

You should ask the company about their work to learn more about their specialties and methods.

In addition, obtaining an overview of their overall work and projects is crucial.

You will get to know about their license to work and all of the government certifications needed.

As the first impression is oftentimes the same as the last, the contractor must also have the right set of communication skills to convince you.

2. What is your company history?

Before making a complete decision, it’s a good idea to know the history of the company. Their history will provide you with a glance into and an idea about their work. Also, checking out the company’s website is a must. Through this investigation, you will get to know how long the company has been in the market as well as its evolution.

3. Tell me about your similar projects.

You must look for references, as this will provide you with a rough idea for your project.

If the company has no experience in areas similar to yours, then maybe they are not the best choice.

It can be risky to trust a company with no previous experience in the realm of your project.

At the same time, you never know! It’s also important to believe in your instincts.

4. What are the other kinds of projects you work on?

Don’t just settle with knowing their history. Your project is important, right? Keep on exploring and probing further.

Ask them about their past and current clients. Learn about their projects. Also, take keen notice of their performance on past projects. Furthermore, become aware of all the types of services and kinds of projects they offer. It is always best to talk about the company at length.

5. Why should we hire you?

Through this question, try to understand their uniqueness and USP.

Do they offer any distinct services?

Note that this can be a game-changer in your hiring decision.

Compare their working strategies with other companies and choose the one that aligns best with you.

6. Are you insured and certified?

Before proceeding, confirms their licenses and certifications. It is very important that the company is well recognized. Additionally, ask about their employee policies. You should be aware of their worker’s compensation and insurance. The safety of workers at the construction site is as important as your project.

7. What about subcontractors and supervisors?

The company is an umbrella that contains various construction services.

It is paramount that there is direct contact with the company on the worksite, as blind trust in the subcontractors can sometimes backfire.

Therefore, take a stand in this matter and then decide what’s the best for you.

8. Who are the designers of the project?

As you are the one investing your hard-earned money, you have every right to know the minutest details. Become familiar with their engineers, architects, and even interior designers. Ask them whether they have their own team of project designers or if they outsource them. If they outsource the services, which firms do they work with?

9. What kind of building materials and construction machines do you use?

Inquire about the building material as well as about the quality and durability of said materials.

Also, with advanced technology, various new construction technologies are available in the market.

The latest construction technology includes the use of drones.

Artificial intelligence, robots, augmented reality, virtual reality, and many other technologies are utilized in construction these days.

Question them about their construction machines and technologies.

10. What are your safety measures and records?

An efficient and strong company must maintain warm and friendly relations with their clients as well as their employees.

Ask them about their safety measures as well as the equipment available for the workers at the construction site. Are there any instances of mishappening in the past? If so, how did they manage it? Get to know any references to past projects for an even better understanding.

11. Do you maintain claim records?

Claim records tell you past clients’ experiences.

Ask the company if they maintain claim records, because then you might be able to access the reviews, feedback, and experiences of other clients.

These can provide meaningful insights while making decisions.

12. What are your communication channels?

As a client and investor, you have the complete right to get feedback from time to time as well as to get to know the progress of your project. Ask the company how this communication will be maintained in addition to how often you will be contacted.

13. What is your conflict resolving mechanism?

There might be situations when your and the company’s opinions will differ.

In order to overcome this hurdle, there must be a pre-determined strategy for compromise between the two parties.

This will ensure the smoothness of the resolution process.

14. Do you follow a timeline?

Scheduling and planning the work is always beneficial. Don’t hesitate to ask about the duration of the project and if they follow a timeline. This is important, as there must be set start and completion dates. The work should proceed as planned. Furthermore, discuss buffer time. This is also very important as sometimes the project is unable to be finished on time due to weather or other unavoidable circumstances.

15. When can the work start?

Ask about the dates from which they can start working for you.

Large commercial construction companies might delay the work to increase profit.

With this in mind, it is good to try to take control and be clear with dates.

16. How often do you miss deadlines?

A professional construction company aims to complete the project on time. However, delays are also quite common.

Therefore, be aware of the company’s record of missing deadlines. Also, ask them for their future steps of mitigation.

17. How do you schedule payments?

Inquire in detail about payment methods.

While talking about money, be clear and precise with your statements.

Communicate your desires and ask them about their payment schedule options.

Before the conversation is over, ensure that you both are on the same page.

18. How do you control costs?

You should know about the pricing methods the company practices. Some of them also bid on subcontractors. Make sure you are well-informed before making a decision.

19. Is the bidding an estimate or fixed?

Sometimes the contractors may change their statements or even add extra costs.

Double-check to be sure the initial cost includes all of the services.

This will ensure that there are no future surprises or discrepancies.

20. Who does the finishing work?

There can be situations in which you are not satisfied after the completion of the project. Then, your main concern is regarding who will take your feedback into account and whether alterations will take place

Everything should be discussed well in advance. Ask the company about the finishing work before signing the contract.

21. Is the company fit for my project?

Even after you tick all the boxes in the checklist, there may be a chance that you are not able to completely trust the company.

In this scenario, rather than forcing yourself to lower your standards, you now have a useful list of questions you can ask the next company as you look for more options and choose the best one for you.

Although a commercial construction company is a large entity, you, as a client, should also be completely satisfied with your decision. Contact Erisa Projects, a professional construction company that takes care of its clients and employees, to get started.