If you are planning a major construction project such as a condo development, your choice of construction company is crucial; it could be the difference between a favorable outcome and a disaster. In this short article, we outline some of the qualities that you should be looking for in a leading construction company.
- Excellent Reputation – Like any other industry, there are many organizations competing against each other and reputations are won and lost in the business arena. Do some research to find out how long they have been trading and take a look at some of the previous projects, such as Lakeville Residence, which gives you an indication of the quality of workmanship. A bit of Googling should tell you what you need to know and if there are no black marks against them, you can invite them to tender for the project.
- Transparency – There should be no secrets from the client; invoices should be detailed, listing all expenses, taxes, etc. Most large companies do have a level of transparency, especially if they are customer-focused.
- Adequate Resources – A substantial project demands a lot of resources; heavy-duty ground-clearing, possibly demolition, earthmoving machinery, generators, and some serious plant. Labor, or lack of it, is one aspect that can cause problems; if a builder doesn’t have the tradesmen, he won’t be able to meet the project timelines and that is the last thing you want. Once a major build starts, the various trades have to wait for their time and when there are delays, it impacts all the workers. Here is a long list of the trades and professions involved in a large construction project.
- Reliability – An established construction company would stand by their word and have the resources to ensure project completion within the given timeline. There are penalty clauses for late completion and a good builder would have the resources to avoid issues. When communicating, you should receive prompt replies, whether by email, phone, or SMS.
- Client-Focused – The client should be the most important person as far as the main contractor is concerned; when you see an award-winning master builder, you can rest assured that customer service is excellent.
- Hands-on Experience – We don’t recommend using a builder who is new to the scene; major projects demand a professional approach. An established construction company would have a long list of completed projects to demonstrate they have on-the-ground experience with similar-sized projects.
- Industry Awards – Like most industries, the construction sector has associations and federations that award top performers; an award-winning builder will not be shy about announcing their awards; check their website and look for awards and recognition.
After you have carried out some research, create a list and invite each builder to bid for the project; you might need some help to draw up the documentation and you should only be dealing with one person from each builder. Check that they are registered as a company, which you can do via a web search.
