Commercial general contractors are used to build nonresidential structures such as schools, restaurants, office buildings and shopping centers. In order to choose a commercial general contractor, there are many things need to be taken into consideration.
There are a number of things you should consider: the reputation of the firm, their past history, financial records and pricing. These particular items are very important when choosing a commercial general contractor. Depending on the project that they will be taking on, the contractor should have a history in that field. If they’re constructing an office building, having a history in office buildings will help you build your trust in their work.
There are many online sites that rate commercial general contractors. Finding the ratings for a contractor is necessary so you can see the positive and negative feedback on the person that you give the project to. Along with online sites, people you know will also be able to give you a review of the contractor if they have hired one before. Word of mouth is a great referral system that should be taken advantage of.
A commercial general contractor will have financial records available for evaluation. Keep in mind tax records, as they could create problems during the job to delay the project if there are any tax concerns. Credit history, capital and liquidity are essential as you will want to ensure that the contractor is able to buy the materials and pay subcontractors and suppliers.
Along with financial records, check that the contractor has insurance. Proof of insurance, license and certifications, and the company’s tax ID number will help verify the contractor. Workers’ compensation is almost always required with their insurance for all of their employees. This will protect you if any of the workers are injured while on the job.
Most importantly, knowing exactly what the plan is for your project will help you get the right commercial general contractor. When you know what you need you can scope the project and the level of service and quality you want. You never want to select a contractor based on their price if you want a quality level of service and work done for your commercial project.
Ask for estimates from the general contractor. Once you have an estimate you can compare and asses the estimate with other general contractors. Looking at the materials they will use, the length of time it will take to complete the project, number of people involved in working on the project, and the conditions that the general contractor has will help you decide what contractor you should go with.
