Choosing a Builder – The Most Important Factor in Your New Project:

You’ve got plans for a new building and are anxious to get the construction project off the ground. This is an exciting time and there are a lot of loose ends that need to be nailed down such as hiring an architect, obtaining the required permits and of course, choosing a builder. But that’s just the beginning. There are a myriad of steps involved in construction that can impact everything from estimates and budgets to labor and delivery dates that can affect the ultimate completion of your building. It’s For these reasons that choosing a builder is the most important factor in your new construction project. And the following five questions will help you select the best builder for your project.

1. Does the contractor have experience with your type of construction project?

The most important factor to consider when choosing a builder is whether the contractor has experience with your type of construction project. While most builders will tell you that they can build just about anything, and that may be true to some extent, it’s the knowledge about potential pitfalls to avoid, materials cost and other valuable insight that can only be learned from real-world experience. When you’re interviewing a builder about building a restaurant, school, shopping center or any other type of construction project be sure to review their portfolio of related building projects that shows the breadth and depth of their construction experience.

2. Can the builder work within your budget?

General contractors and builders offer a variety of delivery methods including design-build, cost-plus and hard bid, to name a few.  Before you can determine which delivery method is best for your budget, it’s important to understand which methods the builder offers. This is important because each method will have a different impact in determining the final cost of the project and any associated risks. For example, when using a design-build contract with a guaranteed cost, the builder acting as general contractor is responsible for the entire project from architectural design to building completion at a specified cost. This single-point-of-contact solution protects your budget and provides project owners with increased efficiency without having to manage each phase of construction. And when value engineering is included in a design-build contract the builder absorbs any cost-overruns.

3. Does the builder subcontract out most of the work?

Commercial builders and general contractors offer a variety of construction services, depending on the size and scope of their operation. Some builders have the resources under one roof to build ground-up construction projects with limited subcontracting while others rely heavily on subcontractors to get the job done. Since cost, availability of labor and experience can vary widely, the subcontractors a builder or general contractor chooses is just as important as choosing a builder. So be sure to inquire about screening methods and standards and who is responsible for hiring and managing subcontractors.

4. Does the builder or general contractor have mostly positive reviews?

Maintaining a positive reputation is the golden rule in the construction industry. And in today’s online world, finding out what a customer thinks about a company is easy when you know where to look. In addition to reviewing a builder’s online presence, look for reviews of previous customers sharing their experience on sites like Facebook, Google Plus, Twitter and Yelp, for example.

5. Are there any unresolved BBB disputes?

There is always an element of risk in any construction project. And disputes can occur in any business contract. Its often not the dispute that matters most, but how it was resolved that can be a forward leaning indicator of future success. Does the builder work proactively to resolve a dispute or do they have a history of ignoring them? You can check with your local Better Business Bureau to help determine if the builder has any unresolved disputes.