Construction in the U.S. is big.

In 2015, we spent a total of 1,162 billion USD. Further, we spent a total of 898.69 billion USD on private construction alone in 2016! Needless to say, with a market like this, among the experts and experienced contractors, you’re bound to come across a few armatures, hustlers and con-experts out to make a quick buck.

The Question

The question is, how do you ensure that your hard earned dollar is not going down the drain when you hire a construction company? How do you protect your investment and make certain that the company you hired is worth the money you are paying them?

The way to establish that you’re hiring qualified specialists and not glorified DIY workers or worse cons, is by doing your due diligence.

There are a number of things you can check on before proceeding to decide if the construction companies you are looking into do indeed have what it takes to deliver on your job!

Paperwork

The first thing you want to look into is the company’s paper work. If they don’t have the documentation that fully states they are covered and qualified to do the work they do, drop them like a hot brick. Like, don’t even bother! Find another company!

Important documentation that you should look into and ensure is up to date include licenses, company registration and of course, insurance (such as accidental damage coverage). If the company’s paperwork is in order, you may move them forward to the next round of screening!

Communication and Manner

The next thing you want to look into is how representatives of the company or professionals from their team approach you. Are they polite? Do they make you feel comfortable or not? Do you understand what they are saying and vice versa.

All this is important as you’re not hiring these folks for a window cleaning. You’re hiring them for construction. You’re spending a whole lot of money on it. You don’t want to work with a team that is rude or obnoxious. Dealing with people who you cannot communicate with is also a bad idea as success of the project relies heavily on the degree and nature of communication between.

If they are rude, keep pushing in their opinions, make you uncomfortable or make you feel like there’s a gap in communication, wish them well and look into the next available option!

Look for a contractor who is clear, easy to communicate with and comfortable to have in your space!

Level of Organization

For those contractors who have made it this far, it is time to assess how organized they are. An organized company or contractor ensures your work will be streamlined, convenient and hassle free. They also ensure adherence to deadlines and quality construction.

Observe how the company representatives approach that first meeting with you. Are they prepared? Do they seem a little up in the air? Do they have a sense of what you are looking for? Do they have any preset plans and strategies that you can tailor?

An organized construction company for the most part will be a good company. If that first meeting is well organized, smooth and well furnished, the likelihood is the work they do will be too!

Professional Experience

We did not put this up as the first thing to look into as there are many experienced contractors out there who have been in the business for a while but have not progressed. Further, there are those well qualified upstart companies who have been on the ball from the get go!

That being said, you don’t want the people you hire to be going through their constructional rite of passage at your expense!

Make sure the contractors you hire have a reasonable degree of experience in the market. Also note, experience is not just measured in years in this case. It can also be measured by the number of projects the construction company in question has completed!

Reviews and Portfolios

Once you’ve gone through all of the above you’re likely going to be left with a pair or trio of strong candidates for the job! The way to go now is look into reviews about them, ask previous clients about their experiences and check out their portfolios and older projects that they have completed. If you like what you see and hear, we say you’ve found the right construction company!

Don’t Compromise!

There you have it! A foolproof way to determine if the company you’re out to hire is in fact worth your dollar. It doesn’t matter if you’re going in for a room addition, kitchen or bathroom remodeling, roof replacement or a full on construction job, just make sure you don’t compromise on the quality of your contractor.

If you’re looking for a reliable and established construction company in the LA vicinity or certain other parts of California, we might be able to help! Check out your options or give us a holler for more details!