When it comes to land development, choosing a construction contractor is one of the most important decisions you can make. A hasty choice can easily burn through the budget and set the entire project back, while a well-researched one will have the project finished with time and money to spare.
We’ve compiled a list of some of the most important criteria to consider during your search so that you can make the most informed decision possible.
Budget
It’s crucial to find a company willing to respect your budgetary limits, and that includes staying on schedule in an industry where every workday comes with a price. During the initial bidding process, it can be tempting to go with the cheapest offer, but that approach often backfires.
Though it might be cheaper initially, a cheap, inexperienced company can end up being a lot more money in the end if their work is shoddy or if they fall behind schedule. You have to ask yourself why that company is so much cheaper than the other options. They could be taking shortcuts, using low-quality materials, etc. It’s definitely worth it to spend more upfront and know you’ll get your money’s worth.
The company’s reputation
One of the first things you can do after confirming a company is licensed and registered to work, is to research its reputation with clients. Check online for any customer reviews using Google searches and also websites like Consumer Affairs, and be sure to look for patterns in the reviews. Bad reviews happen occasionally even to high-quality businesses, but take note if you see multiple similar complaints from different people.
If possible try to reach out to past clients they’ve worked with directly in order to hear testimonials and have the opportunity to ask targeted questions.
Relevant experience
It’s always best to find a company with some experience working on similar sorts of projects. For example, if you are developing a large industrial project, a company that only has experience building small residential complexes may not be the best fit.
To get started, it’s important to take note of your own projects’ specific requirements. The proposed size of the development, its purpose, the timeline, and budget, etc. Once you know that information, you can offer it to companies as a reference so they can provide relevant examples of similar projects.
Established companies will useful have examples of past work on their websites, but don’t hesitate to ask for more samples of their work if you’re unsatisfied with what you’ve seen so far. There’s a lot of time and money on the line and a reputable company will understand this.
Safety protocols
Commitment to safety says a lot about a company’s professionalism and is necessary for a successful outcome. Before settling on a bid, you can assess safety ratings using a few standardized safety records within the industry.
OSHA, which is part of the US Department of Labor, provides forms called 300 and 300a which list off all workplace injuries and illnesses. Another type of safety measurement is called an EMR (Experience Modifier Rate), which measures company injuries as compared to industry averages, and is used by insurers to predict worker’s comp claims. A number below 1.0 means less chance of an injury, and lower premiums. A number higher than 1.0 means the reverse.
Additionally, companies that are committed to safety often have a safety officer on-site and have official company-wide safety policies which all employees are required to follow. Be sure to ask them about this if you have any lingering doubts. Despite being dedicated to safety, accidents still occasionally happen. But with a good EMR and OSHA rating, you can feel comfort in knowing it will be the exception rather than the rule.
If you’re in Arizona and still have doubts, APX West is here to advise and guide new developers through every step of the process. Reach out to us at 928-412-3570 to discuss your project.
