Choosing A General Contractor

By: Travis Justice-Director of Business Development/Marketing

So you are getting ready to start a major remodel project or construct a brand new building. One of the first questions that you should ask yourself is:  Who is going to build this project for me?

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There are some different avenues to take and you can see the various delivery methods that we utilize here on our website. These methods are industry standard; some are better and more efficient than others. We don't want you to be overwhelmed by the process.  Your future investment is necessary to grow and improve your business and it is imperative to have a partner on board that helps you reach your goals. I want to give you three things to consider when you select your building partner. Are they the only things to think of during the selection process? No, but these considerations should start you on a path that makes the process a lot easier.

Relationships.

​Look at the business you are running right now. I'm willing to bet a big reason for your success and growth are the relationships you have established over the years. Those relationships are rooted in trust, quality, and service. Relationships lead to repeat business and word-of-mouth marketing.
 
Do you have a prior relationship with a builder? Did the company deliver what you wanted? If so, then you know where to start. I meet with potential clients all the time and if they tell me no, it's usually because they already have an established relationship. I respect that because it demonstrates that partnerships are held in high value.
 
There are tremendous advantages to having an established relationship with your Construction Manager. First, they are part of a team early in the design process. This approach allows us to collaborate with the architect on budgeting, value analysis, constructability, and schedule. It's being proactive, not reactive, and eliminates surprises down the road.
 
Construction is all about service before, during, and after a project is complete. Service is at the heart of the relationship because it builds and maintains trust and you know your needs are being met and/or exceeded.
 
So what if you don't have a prior relationship with a general contractor? Or your previous one was a disaster? Ask around. You probably know people you respect in business who have been through the process.  If you still aren't finding what you are looking for, ask your architect (who you have a relationship with) for three or four suggestions on who would be a good fit for your project.

Team.

​The second thing to consider in your selection process is your project team in this order, Project Superintendent, then Project Manager. If you have a prior relationship, more than likely you are going to get the same team. Why? Because that's part of the service you expect and you trust them with your investment.
 
If you don't have a prior relationship with a constructor, take 30 minutes to talk to the proposed Project Superintendent and Project Manager. These are the two individuals that you will be in contact with the most. It's important to have a team that provides experience. It's equally important to have a team that you can relate to, communicate with, and that takes ownership in the project. Listen, we all have people we don't "jive" with because of personality. If you take the time to meet with your proposed team and ask the right questions, this should eliminate any possible head-butting down the road.
 
I can't tell you how many times we finish up a project and clients say the team they had on the site is a lot like family. Sometimes they will look for smaller projects just to keep them on site a little longer.  This feedback is what we like to hear because it means we are meeting our expectations of providing exceptional services and delivering a holistic building experience. 

Price.

​I'm not going to tell you price doesn't matter, it does. You only have so much to spend, and you want the most bang for your buck. If the cheapest is what you want, remember you get what you pay for, and it could cost you more in the end.

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​​What do I mean by this? Let's say you go with the design-bid-build delivery method. You are probably going to have three or four general contractors bid against each other, and you will award the project to the lowest bidder. In theory, its sounds like the best deal. In reality, it's a flawed model. We subcontract 75% to 80% of the work on a project. In a  hard-bid environment, we are forced (to be competitive) to take the low bid. Because of this, there is a risk of sacrificing quality of subcontracted work. Wouldn't you rather have subcontractors we know and trust? It goes back to the relationship-based building model and the value it adds to a project.  We have a competitive bid process on all our projects,  but we feel it's beneficial for you and us to select three or four prequalified subcontractors who can perform and deliver. I wish I could tell you that all hard-bid projects were perfect but I can't.
 
When you have an established relationship with a general contractor, you trust them to deliver top-notch quality and to provide exceptional service within your budget.  That's something you can't put a price tag on and demonstrates why lowest price is not always the best price.

​These are three things to consider when picking your general contractor. It's a start, and I'm sure you have a lot more questions.  For more information, download our free guide, "Ten Questions You Must Ask Before Hiring A Construction Manager.”
 
Do you have a project coming up and don't know where to start? Contact us today to learn more about our services.

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​These are three things to consider when picking your general contractor. It's a start, and I'm sure you have a lot more questions.  For more information,download our free guide, "Ten Questions You Must Ask Before Hiring A Construction Manager.”                    
 
Do you have a project coming up and don't know where to start? Contact us today to learn more about our services.