Not everyone knows how to choose a building contractor for a project. What should you look for? How can you tell you are getting quality craftsmanship? You must find answers to these questions before taking the plunge. Quality workmanship is essential for achieving the best results.
That’s why it’s essential to do your research before selecting a construction company to take on your project. So, here are a few things to look out for when choosing the best construction contractor in California.
1. Look for Experience
One way to ensure quality construction is to seek construction companies with ample experience. Checking the company’s years in service may be a good indicator of their background. Additionally, you can check their service area. The more regions they have serviced, the more places they have had experience in. If they are a national company, rather than a statewide company, they probably have more experience. Going beyond checking their years in business and service areas, ensure the company has done work in your specific industry or specialty. In other words, if you need a commercial office building, make sure they have built commercial offices before.
Another indicator of experience could be if the company’s staff has any certifications. Also, check the details of what these credentials mean. Must they take specific steps to earn it, or is it easy to obtain? Further, find out what standards the company must uphold to maintain that certification and whether it is unique or standard. Do some research and see who they have worked with in the past. Is there anyone notable on that list? If so, this could be another good indicator of an experienced construction company.
2. Check out Their Completed Construction Projects
Before selecting a construction company, make sure to take a look at their gallery of past projects. Checking out their portfolio lets you see their finished work, so you know what to expect upon completion. Keep in mind that the content they choose to share is some of their best work. A company would not display completed projects they aren’t proud of. If any of the images don’t meet your specifications, you might wish to choose another company.
Also, look for examples of the type of project you are thinking of hiring them for. So, if you need a gym built, you want to specifically look at the work they have done on past gyms. Examine the diversity among their past work to determine if they can achieve the look you’re picturing for your completed project. To help you understand their capabilities and experience level, you can also look for their use of advanced techniques.
3. Explore the Construction Services They Offer
Another tip for how to choose a construction company in Southern California is to explore the services they offer to ensure they provide everything you need and any add-ons you would like to have. For example, you may want design, budgeting, subcontracting or project management. So, when choosing a construction company, you have to examine all the services they offer to ensure you’re getting everything you need. You will also want to work with a company that provides complete transparency at every stage of your project.
One way to get everything you need is to look for full-service construction companies that offer start-to-finish construction services. When working with a full-service construction company like Alta, you have everything available under one roof. Communication is a breeze because everyone involved in the project is on the same page and nothing gets lost along the way.
Full-service firms also know the ins and outs of every project from start to finish, which helps avoid timeline and budget changes. Full-service construction companies provide you with a single point of contact for managing the project. You’ll find it easier to relay information and ensure everything gets completed the way you envisioned.
4. Read Reviews and Testimonials
Once you have found an experienced construction company that offers all the services you need and has past projects that satisfy the image of your completed project, be sure to read reviews and testimonials. These allow you to see what past clients have to say about their experience with the company. There is no better way to ensure you will get what you want out of your chosen construction company than to read a review from someone who hired them.
Sometimes, a company’s website looks polished and professional, but you might discover complaints about their inexperience, timeliness or customer service. You could overlook details when researching potential partners for your project, but reviews can bring various issues to light. Customers who were initially pleased can also go back and leave reviews later, helping you uncover any long-term problems related to the construction. Also, if the company’s reviews are all positive, this can help you trust them and reinforce your confidence in your final decision.
Additional Considerations for Hiring a Construction Company
Knowing what to look for in a general contractor is essential for ensuring the best service and final results. Once you have a construction company in mind, though, you have to go beyond the basics. Here are some more advanced considerations to make before hiring a contractor.
Financial Stability
When hiring a construction company, understanding their financial status is critical for ensuring a high-quality project.
Here are some tips for assessing a company’s financial stability:
- Check credit ratings: You may be able to find the company’s credit score online through sources such as S&P, Moody’s or Fitch. However, this information is not publicly available for all companies.
- Ask for financial references: Previous customers of the company are often the best source of information you may be unable to find elsewhere. You may have to make some outreach calls if these customers aren’t already in your network.
- Evaluate cash flow: Request financial records from the company, such as their income and cash flow statements, to understand whether they can generate sufficient revenue from their core business activities — in this case, completing construction projects.
Working with a financially unstable contractor can expose your organization to unnecessary risk, so being aware of your partner’s financial health is essential for your project’s successful completion.
Safety Record
The construction industry has the highest number and rate of fatal workplace injuries in the private sector, so it’s critical to understand a construction company’s safety practices before signing any contracts.
Their compliance status with regulations from the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is also essential. Companies that adhere to these requirements are less likely to experience the same rates of injuries — not to mention the fines associated with noncompliance.
Here are some ways you can get information on a company’s safety record:
- Request copies of the company’s OSHA 300 and 300A forms for a comprehensive list of all recordable work-related injuries or illnesses.
- Check OSHA’s Establishment Search database for inspection data and violation records.
- Contact the company’s insurance firm and request their experience modification rate (EMR) for an overview of their claims history.
Communication and Collaboration
Clear, continuous communication is critical for keeping projects under budget and on schedule. Without effective communication, your company lacks visibility into project progress — and the project can easily creep beyond its original scope.
Scheduling and conducting interviews with potential partners can help you gauge whether they’re reliable communicators. It can also help to check online reviews and consult with former customers for more information about their experiences.
Sustainability and Environmental Practices
The construction industry is facing increasing regulation on environmental practices from multiple levels of government, including the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and state departments of environmental and public health. To avoid hefty noncompliance fines and other penalties, you need to learn more about whether your potential construction partner is committed to sustainable business and construction practices.
Checking the EPA’s Enforcement and Compliance History Online (ECHO) database is a good way to start your investigation. You may also be able to find more information through the company’s website, as many contractors will provide details of their compliance status on their “about” pages.
The Alta Construction Advantage
If you’re looking for a reliable construction partner, Alta Construction is here to help. We’re a full-service commercial construction firm dedicated to delivering top-quality results through total transparency and clear communication.
Part of our effectiveness as a company is our openness to innovation. We give all our clients access to advanced project management software to drive greater efficiency and cost savings. Those programs include:
- Procore: As a construction-specific communications platform, Procore provides a centralized hub for all project stakeholders to manage tasks, view schedules, track employee punch lists and more.
- Raken: This industry-leading reporting program features a user-friendly app where on-site supervisors can provide daily progress updates and critical work details to our team and our clients.
- BuildingConnected: This preconstruction platform enables data-driven decision making for cost savings and work efficiency. It also makes it easy to keep stakeholders up to date on project progress, which keeps engagement high throughout the timeline.
- Bluebeam: As a trusted construction technology platform, Bluebeam facilitates effective collaboration through design reviews, cloud-based data storage and mobile application technology.
- Matterport: Matterport’s intuitive artificial intelligence (AI) model converts 2D scans into interactive 3D models to create immersive virtual tours and add depth to the design.
Contact our team for more information about our technologies!
Contact Alta Construction for Your Next Project
When choosing a construction company, remember to first eliminate any companies without experience to ensure quality craftsmanship. An experienced construction firm like Alta can help bring the picture you envision for your final project into reality. Choosing a full-service construction company gives you the confidence that tasks will get done the right way and on time. Ensure your company is transparent, communicative and keeps you up to date. For more information, contact us today!
