David A. Markham

Selecting your contractor-part two

Once you have some or one potential contractor, move along to the interview process to see if there is a fit. Topics to consider:

References, References, References:

When discussing your project with potential contractors be sure to collect a list of references with whom you will be able to call and discuss qualifications. Most clients of large, estate-type homes may not allow contractors to show their homes to potential clients and that is understandable. However, they or their representatives will likely easily discuss the experience they had with you over the phone. It is important once again to gauge the size and complexity of the project in order to compare the experience that the reference had with the experience you are expecting.

Consider LOCAL experience:

In places like San Francisco, where neighbor input, view obstruction and permitting issues often become hair-raising, having a builder on board who has experience in the City can make a big difference. Other municipalities may not have such constraints but using a contractor that operates in your general area will assure that he knows the pool of local subcontractors and is familiar with the construction norms of that area.

Company longevity is important:

A contractor who has been through various building cycles can be a better predictor of outcomes. Having some time in a referral-based business means loads of feedback from existing clients on how their design decisions have panned out and how products have fared. In addition, most tenured building executives have built several homes for themselves or done some speculative building so have the ability to look at things from an owner’s perspective.

Project and Field Management:

Let’s face it, no matter who you contract with, you need to know who is actually building or remodeling your home? The management team is the single most important facet of what your contractor is offering. This team will be the driver of Quality Control, Schedule and Cost Management. When interviewing your potential contractor, ask about the project manager and/or field superintendent that will be slated to run your project. What qualifications do they possess? How long have they been with the company? Will they be running more than one project at a time? Once the contractor has been selected and the preconstruction phase is underway, it is important to meet and establish rapport with this team. The relationship is priceless.

Who takes ultimate responsibility?

A valuable contractor will generally be performing multiple projects at all times. Each project, large and small, should have a management team in place whether full or part time depending on size and complexity. That team answers to the owner of the company or in larger firms, an operations manager. This manager takes ultimate responsibility within the firm based on the terms of the contract and should act as an advocate for the client when assessing the interim health of the project or as hard decisions arise. By avoiding contractors where the owner or operations manager is also the project manager you ensure a healthier chain of command and a single point of reference for managing expectations.

Understanding of Budget vs. Quality vs. Schedule

It is fairly cliché in the industry but having a firm grasp on the basic construction triangle is a key to understanding how the process works. The triangle consists of budget, quality and schedule. If a low budget is the priority, top quality and a fast-paced schedule may have to be sacrificed to an extent. Conversely, if top quality or unusual finishes are of utmost importance, the budget and/or schedule will need to be extended. Any number of combinations can occur, all causing the push and pull of the triangle. Understanding these relationships and better yet, feeling confident that your contractor understands these relationships help a great deal in fulfilling your wants and needs in a newly constructed home.

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