Having been in the contracting world for several years, I’ve seen all types of contractors. Some I admire, some I wouldn’t let on my property or job site even if they offered to do the work for free. If someone is searching for a cheap contractor, they are easy to find. If you are looking for the best value contractor, a few criteria need to be met.
I’m the type of person that wants anything I’m associated with to be top-notch, I take pride in what I do, what I wear, what I drive, and who I am involved with. When I go to purchase a product or service I am looking for a few things about the company… 1) quality of the product or service, 2) reputation in their industry, 3) American made, 4) a strong focus on integrity and business principles, 5) companies that have great customer service where I can reach someone should I need something addressed and 6) Price. I listed price last. Why? Because it’s my last focus. I look for the company to fit all of my other criteria first and then the last step is to see if the pricing is fair (FAIR, not cheap). I understand all of the above adds cost to the product or service. However, the product or service must align with my values.
When it comes to the contracting world this is just as important as often times the contractor is a direct representation of you. You hired them. You said they were good enough to set foot on my property and lead this project through to completion. I’ve always been against low bid contracting for several reasons. Earlier in my career, I was burnt by it. I dislike low value. I dislike poor quality. So, it never aligned. My focus is always on quality, safety, and values when it comes to contracting and purchasing. I search hard for vendors that we use, they must provide a quality service, have backend support that is available when we need them, have a staff that is responsive when our team needs them, and people who back up their product or service. I don’t bid out items based upon price. My selection criteria are based on if they are the best in their field, the most knowledgeable, and will they work past 5 p.m. or on weekends to get my company what we need.
So, what are some tips for picking the best contractor:
- Stop taking the lowest bid.
- Find out more about the company, its values, and business practices.
- Find out if they offer service after 5 p.m. or on weekends. Is someone readily available for answers or questions? What office support and/or project manager support will you have?
- Do they provide oversight? Perform Quality and Safety Audits?
- Do their goals align with yours?
- Is their equipment newer? Have their employees been on the job for a while, or is every employee “new”?
- Are they organized? The sales process, email response, etc.
You pay for what you get. Choose Quality. Choose Safety. Choose to give your money to a contractor that is seeking to exceed your expectations not rush the job because they underbid it and are hurrying on to the next one.