Building and renovating your home or commercial space is exciting as well as an intimidating process. It is not only about how stunning the place looks but also about how well it is constructed. For most owners, the difficult part of beginning a new construction project is finding a proficient, knowledgeable, and reliable contractor who understands the vision that you have for your place – be it commercial or residential. Choosing the right contractor plays a crucial role in successful project completion, just as you have imagined it to be. A contractor can either provide high-quality work from start to finish or end up with a complete disaster. Any fault in your dream place can turn into a nightmare. Below are some tips to consider before hiring a contractor for your dream home or commercial project, from our team of experts in the construction sector.
Know your goal
As a client, you are the one driving the operation. Before sealing the deal with the contractor, spend time thinking about your goals for the project - how it must look, how long it shall last before the next renovation, the amenities you want, and so on. If you do not know how to translate your goals into specific features or products, hire a design consultant to get a better picture of the outcome.
The background check is a must
It does not matter if your friend or family member recommended a specific contractor to you, as an owner always make sure that the contractor has a genuine license and safety equipment along with labour insurance especially for G+4 height is the best way to avoid the probability of forgery and accidents. Take time to observe their work first-hand, and look for three things: similarity to your project, quality materials, workmanship, and consistent past client commitment & satisfaction. Carelessness in little things never goes hand in hand with quality work. A contractor's reputation is one of their most valuable assets. If your contractor has an honest and reliable establishment, it reflects through the work. Site testimonials and past site references check can also be helpful.
Set boundaries
Let the company or contracting team know you expect specific precautions - such as checks for anyone who will have access to your home. Also, establish some basic rules working hours, personal utilization of space, and other issues that might concern you throughout the process.
Quality building materials
The construction materials'
- Request for quotation (RFQ) can be made for construction materials. I.e. Details of the materials supply and their rate per unit price.
- All the details that the supplier is going to provide with the rates must be specified in the quote.
- Some of the quote may differ with time as there might be fluctuations in the rate of materials due to market conditions.
- Any changes made in the material quotation must be conducted in the presence and acceptance of the client. This helps in saving the money from unexpected, expensive alterations and substitutes.
Understand what you are paying for
At the same time, a lot of construction supplies today are sustainable and safer to use in your project. Environmental awareness is an essential need from the past decade. A lot of companies adopted environment-friendly products. The similar approach can also be applied to the construction materials. Asking your contractor to utilize environment-friendly building material is a win-win situation.
Quite frankly, quality should matter more than pricing. This applies to every purchase people make for building materials. Not only choosing quality materials accredited by institutions like IGBC can ensure everyone's safety but also the contractor's business integrity as well.
Contractors will often give you a fixed costing, but some work on a "cost-plus" basis, charging you for extra materials, time/labour, and an administrative or overhead fee. This is sometimes a genuine issue, but it should have a backing that explains cost overruns. To get the value for money, Bill of Quantities (BOQ) with contract splitting shall be invited to bid.
- It provides a basic idea of the project by giving the quantities to tenderers.
- It gives an estimated or anticipated contract sum.
- It defines the extent of the work.
- It provides a basis for valuation of variation.
Beware of contracting details
A contract between you and your contracting firm/team should include start and completion dates, information on applicable building permits and fees, a description of what products and services are to be provided by the contractor, payment terms, license verification, and the accountability of any mishaps by either party. This can also include a change in orders or more severe disputes, such as unintended damage or a failure to meet legal as well as reasonable standards. Always release the payment basis on completion quantity submitted by the contractor.
A transparent communication helps ensure that both parties are staying on top of the project, and are setting clear and reasonable expectations of how the project outcome should be. Maintaining a good bond on both ends plays a key role when addressing changes or fixing issues on the final walkthrough. Your expectations and contractor's commitments both shall be on the same track. At the end of the day, it's in the contractor's best interest to be trustworthy and honest because he wants you to recommend him to other potential clients.