• Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • Mail
  • Careers
  • Press Releases
  • Testimonials
  • Travel Policy
858.587.2874
Ivey Engineering
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Careers
    • Newsletter
    • Press Releases
    • Scholarship Contest
    • Travel Policy
    • Testimonials
  • Expertise
    • Overview
    • HVAC
    • Plumbing
    • Fire Suppression
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Carbon Monoxide
    • Building Codes
    • Design
    • Construction
    • Facility Condition Assessment
  • Services
    • Overview
    • Construction Claims
    • Construction Defects
    • Estimating & Cost Analysis
    • Building System Evaluation
    • Forensic Investigation & Failure Analysis
    • HVAC & Plumbing Design
    • Indoor Cultivation Facility Design
    • Professional Liability
    • Product Testing
  • Our Team
    • Conrad Gonzalez
    • Kevin Hastings, P.E.
    • Nancy Ivey
    • William Ivey, P.E.
    • Jorie Obias-Yambao
    • Joseph Palanca, P.E.
    • Gloria Rodriguez
    • Nova Sevilla
    • David Shreve, P.E.
    • Felix Touza, P.E.
    • Gregory Weintraub
    • Lisa Zollinger
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
    • California Office
    • Florida Office
    • Virginia Office
    • Ask an Expert
    • Request Fee Schedule
    • Request Resume
    • Subscribe to Newsletter
  • Menu Menu
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Careers
    • Newsletter
    • Press Releases
    • Scholarship Contest
    • Travel Policy
    • Testimonials
  • Expertise
    • Overview
    • HVAC
    • Plumbing
    • Fire Suppression
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Carbon Monoxide
    • Building Codes
    • Design
    • Construction
    • Facility Condition Assessment
  • Services
    • Overview
    • Construction Claims
    • Construction Defects
    • Estimating & Cost Analysis
    • Building System Evaluation
    • Forensic Investigation & Failure Analysis
    • HVAC & Plumbing Design
    • Indoor Cultivation Facility Design
    • Professional Liability
    • Product Testing
  • Our Team
    • Conrad Gonzalez
    • Kevin Hastings, P.E.
    • Nancy Ivey
    • William Ivey, P.E.
    • Jorie Obias-Yambao
    • Joseph Palanca, P.E.
    • Gloria Rodriguez
    • Nova Sevilla
    • David Shreve, P.E.
    • Felix Touza, P.E.
    • Gregory Weintraub
    • Lisa Zollinger
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
    • California Office
    • Florida Office
    • Virginia Office
    • Ask an Expert
    • Request Fee Schedule
    • Request Resume
    • Subscribe to Newsletter
You are here: Home1 / Construction2 / 6 Tips to Hiring a Building Contractor for a Commercial Project
Two men discussing a building project at the site

6 Tips to Hiring a Building Contractor for a Commercial Project

in Construction/by Lisa Zollinger

The next time you shuffle into your favorite restaurant, exhausted after a long day of work, stop for a second. Notice the curvature of the entryway and the texture of the paint on the walls. Each feature was a choice made by a commercial contractor, piecing together various aspects to not only engineer an establishment, but also immerse each customer in a unique atmosphere.

As a business owner looking to create a visionary meeting room or even an entirely novel building, choosing the right building contractor is essential. That’s why we’ve come up with 6 Tips to Hiring a Building Contractor for a Commercial Project. These tips translate into what we call the CREATE method: Character, References, Experience, Authorization, Throw and Engage.  (These six steps also work if you’re a homeowner who wants to hire a contractor.)

1. Choose Someone with Exceptional Character

Selecting a contractor with an exceptional character is surprisingly, yet absolutely, essential to the success of a building project, says Tony LaPelusa, past president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. Someone with a strong moral compass will follow the right standards and be trustworthy, assets necessary for a successful project.

Another essential contractor component encompassed under character is communication, both with you, the business owner, and within your team. Through the building process, it’s necessary to have someone who establishes effective methods of contact and clearly explains procedures. Contractors must display a customer-oriented rapport to form a productive business relationship with clients. At the end of the day, a compatible match in character is crucial for the prosperity of the project.

A building contractor talking on cell phone standing next to white van

2. Ask for References and Do Research

The second tip to hiring a building contractor is to ask for a list of references, which the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) says should include the names, phone numbers and addresses of three clients with projects similar to yours. Along with contacting references, you should also read reviews from past clients and look at design portfolios and ongoing projects. It’s paramount the contractor understands the process of building and your project expectations. Contacting references, as well as pouring through online reviews, helps choose someone that prioritizes your preferences. Scanning through portfolios can also ensure a match in design tastes.

Most importantly, if possible, you should strive to visit a current project to experience how the contractor takes charge of tasks. A tour of an ongoing construction site can go a long way and may help determine the quality of a contractor’s work. When deciding on a contractor, know you will be diving into research, as a stellar track record from references is imperative.

Man in suit on a laptop

3. Consider the Contractor’s Experience

Considering the experience of your commercial contractor is necessary to secure the reality of your vision. Contractors with over three years of experience can aid projects by knowing the land environment and making secure choices. Experience is beneficial in the construction industry since many tricks of the trade can only be learned through practical application.

Before choosing a contractor, decide if you’re looking for one that operates with the design-build or design-bid-build method, as the market is shifting towards design-build, and contractors must have a suited background. With each contract, you as a business owner are making a commitment and should elect for someone with a long history that can utilize insider “secrets” to achieve your goals.

4. Make Sure Contractor is Licensed

Another tip to hiring a commercial contractor is making sure the builder has authorization, including licensing, insurance and bonding. Luckily, these sanctions can easily be verified to ensure you are getting high-quality, up-to-standard work. It’s essential to check your states’ individual qualifications and talk to your city building department to make certain your contractor has the required licenses.

Valid insurance, whether it’s worker’s compensation, personal liability and/or property damage coverage, is paramount. Ask for copies of the insurance certificates and make sure they are current. If you want to get technical, inquire into each contractor’s EMR (Experience Modification Rate) and TRIR (Total Recordable Incident Rate).

The last step under authorization is to ascertain if your contractor should be bonded to protect yourself and provide a safeguard within compliance. The nitty-gritty policies can often be your greatest construction impediments, and by checking the three above authorizations, you can be assured of your project’s legitimacy.

a city hall building

5. Throw Out the Lowest Bid

The best bid may not always be the best value. This Old House general contractor, Tom Silva, recommends throwing out the lowest bid. Be wary of “outlier bids” because extremely low bids, while enticing, often utilize substandard building materials and cut corners to finish constructing.

Finances are fundamental to every building timeline, and while browsing multiple estimates, note that a fair bid is comprehensive. The best rule of thumb is to gather at least three bids for your project, which will give an idea of the general price range and also help recognize outlier bids.

In addition, beware of estimates without a cap price or that have “allowances,” as your final payment might be considerably higher. Finance is the lifeblood of business and considering where you want to invest your money is an integral part of choosing a contractor.

desk with laptop, notebook and calculator

6. Engage in Face-to-Face Meeting

The final tip to hiring a building contractor is to engage in a face-to-face discussion. Set up a convenient meeting time and be prepared with questions. According to the FTC, contractors are only as good as their team, so you’ll want to ask which subcontractors are being used and if they are on board with company ethics.

This is the time to inquire into their expertise in your specific project area, as well as their success with integrating multiple disciplines. For example, if your goal is to renovate a building that will conserve energy, consider hiring a builder who is familiar with implementing energy efficiency strategies.

Focus on your instinctual inclinations and make certain they fit your vision. After putting your sweat into not only your business, but also choosing the optimal contractor, a flawless interaction can set the tone for a successful build.

two people shaking hands after meeting in person

By following these tips when hiring a building contractor, you can CREATE the building project of your dreams, whether it be a hair salon renovation or office overhaul. While scouring the hundreds of contractors that appear with a quick Google search, conduct your CREATE scan by focusing on: Character, References, Experience, Throw (ing out the lowest bid), and Engage. After all, an exceptional contractor is a keystone on your path from transforming your distant company image to a bread-winning reality.

Are you in need of a construction expert witness? We’d be happy to help answer your questions! Give Ivey Engineering a call today.

Tags: architecture, buildings, featured, remodel project
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on Twitter
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
You might also like
A constructiion site showing equipment and concrete work5 Reasons to Hire a Construction Claims Consultant
An old aqueduct that could have been used as part of an ancient plumbing system27 Historical Events that Shaped Modern Plumbing Systems
The William J. Clinton Presidential Library is an energy-efficient green buildingTop 7 Energy-Efficient “Green” Buildings
The Bailong ElevatorTop 10 Modern Engineering Marvels in the World
tasks winterize home7 Doable Tasks to Winterize Your Home
Hedy Lamarr was a famous female engineer and actress8 Famous Female Engineers in History
CONNECT on LinkedIn
FOLLOW on Twitter
CONNECT on Facebook

Recent Blog Posts

  • High rise building with lights on6 Ways to Reduce the Cost of Energy in Commercial BuildingsFebruary 16, 2023 - 4:56 pm
  • outlet with plug on fire6 Tips to Help Prevent a Home or Building FireOctober 31, 2022 - 4:59 pm
  • white pipe leaking water4 Common Causes of Mold in Buildings or HomesSeptember 23, 2022 - 2:15 pm
  • old copper gas boiler6 Most Common Causes of Carbon Monoxide PoisoningDecember 21, 2021 - 3:49 pm

Categories

  • Community
  • Construction
  • Courtroom
  • Electrical
  • Energy Efficiency
  • Fire & Life Safety
  • Fire Protection
  • HVAC
  • Newsletter
  • Plumbing
  • Press Releases
  • Sustainable Living

Archives

Tags

architecture bathroom buildings claim class action comedy court case courtroom drama energy consumption energy efficiency environmentally friendly expert witness featured fire & life safety fire protection hilarious history home house HVAC lawsuit massive irrigation system master bathroom medical imaging mistakes modern modern plumbing systems movies opinion plastic pipe plumbing plumbing code plumbing systems plumbing videos problems rainwater harvesting remodel project renewable sources renovation settlement solar panels sustainability trial verdict

About Us

Ivey Engineering, based in San Diego, California, with offices in Tampa, Florida and Richmond, Virginia, has performed expert witness and forensic consulting services since 1994. IEI serves clients in over 30 states. Our staff is comprised of engineers, former construction executives and service and repair professionals who are licensed in various states.

Get in Touch

Phone: 858.587.2874

Fax: 858.587.6749

E-mail: [email protected]

Address: 8330 Juniper Creek Lane

San Diego, CA 92126

From Our Blog

  • High rise building with lights on6 Ways to Reduce the Cost of Energy in Commercial BuildingsFebruary 16, 2023 - 4:56 pm
  • outlet with plug on fire6 Tips to Help Prevent a Home or Building FireOctober 31, 2022 - 4:59 pm
  • white pipe leaking water4 Common Causes of Mold in Buildings or HomesSeptember 23, 2022 - 2:15 pm
© Copyright 2023 - Ivey Engineering Inc.
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Expertise
  • Services
  • Our Team
  • Blog
  • Contact Us
7 Ways to Reduce Cooling Costs in Commercial Buildingswhite air conditioning vent in an office buildingFire sprinkler with water4 Most Common Fire Sprinkler Systems: Pros and Cons
Scroll to top