How Do I Select a Contractor?

Whether your job is building, renovation, demolition, or repair, finding the right contractor matters. Hiring the wrong contractor can mean delays, frustration, and wasted time and money. Picking the right contractor, on the other hand, can mean a successfully completed project and value for your company or business. 

Let’s give you some tips for selecting a contractor so that you come away feeling satisfied! 

Tips For Finding a Contractor

1. Understand Your Needs: The first step in finding a contractor that can go to work for you is to understand what exactly you need. You should write down your objectives and clearly explain them to the contractor so that they can better assess whether or not the relationship would be a good fit.

2. Acquire Prospects: Spend some time reading online reviews, reach out for word-of-mouth recommendations from connections in your industry, and make a long list of potential contractors. 

3. Ask for References: Once you’ve established your list of contractors, it’s time to start making some calls. Ask questions. Demonstrate your needs. From there, you should ask for references from other jobs that the contractor has completed. Great contractors have great integrity and work well with people, and should have no problem giving you a list of references. As you narrow your search, make sure to actually call those references for some feedback. 

4. Create Your Short-List: Now that you’ve gotten some feedback and talked with several contractors, invite 3-5 out to your construction site—whether it be home or commercial—to gather some quotes. 

5. Choose Based On Merit: Going with the cheapest option isn’t always the best option. You should select a contractor based on integrity, ability to complete the job, and willingness to cultivate a productive relationship. You’ve done all the logical screening, now it’s time to trust your gut. Go with a service that makes you feel taken care of! 

After You’ve Selected a Contractor 

Once you’ve selected a contractor, it’s time to write up a contract. It’s in the name, after all. The written contract should specify a budget, a schedule for completing the work, and both start and completion dates. 

It’s also a good idea to ask for a guarantee from your contractor. Most contractors will guarantee the quality of their work for a year, ensuring that you can trust the job is done right. If something isn’t functioning the way it’s supposed to, the contractor should return to the site and right the wrong free of charge. 

We’re Here to Help 

At Carlton Building Services, we believe that everyone in Virginia deserves a great contracting experience. We’d like to invite you to check out our blog for more helpful information or contact us with any additional questions that you may have. 

We specialize in commercial renovations that make big improvements with little interference. If this sounds like the type of contractor you need, we hope that you’ll consider us for your next project! We invite you to peruse our portfolio of past projects or give us a call today!