Building contractors are professionals who are qualified to bid on, provide, and oversee the entire process of building work. They work with builders and architects to design a project that meets specified requirements, after which they submit a detailed plan outlining their approach. Building contractors may also do all or part of the work themselves in the event that a contractor is unavailable for certain reasons.
Things to consider when looking for building contractors cambridge
- Contract
Most importantly the contract. This is a legally binding document which is signed by both sides, wherein all the objective details of how the work will be carried out are stipulated. In addition to this, you must check and make sure that limited liability companies are allowed in your state.
- License
Building contractors who want to do business in your state must register with your state’s board of building regulations and obtain an appropriate license. A contractor’s license is a permit which grants them entry into a specific industry and entitles them to do business within it under certain restrictions. This is a mandatory step and should not be taken lightly.
- Insurance
The construction industry is one that carries the potential of high risk associated, which is why insurance policies must be taken out to protect contractors in case their work is affected by an unforeseen catastrophe. A general contractor’s policy may contain items such as fire, theft, suicide and accidental death or injury clauses as well as regular business travel for employees.
- Equipment loaner program & Management plan
A good contractor is one who takes pride in his work and takes care of his business at all costs; this is why he will put in place a detailed management plan that will make sure everything runs smoothly onsite. This is something you definitely want to be present for.
- A clear, simple and flexible approach to the project
A building contractor will have his own unique style of working. To make sure that you have the best person working on your project, make sure he has a proven track record and that his method is both effective and efficient. You might want to ask him how he intends to organize the tasks in order of importance so that those aspects of the project which require urgent attention can be handled immediately without delay.
- How long will it take?
Asking this question will give you a basic idea of how long each phase of the project will take. This is especially important if your project is expected to last for a few months or longer. It is always recommended that you hire a contractor who can work on multiple projects at the same time and has the necessary staff available to do so. If a group approach can be made, then it is much more likely that valuable productivity time will be spent on actual building tasks instead of organising those important little details which are often left until the last minute.
- What are his charges?
This is one of the most important questions to ask a building contractor, as there are many factors that affect the cost of a particular project. Certain contracts may be subject to specific site features or local labour rates, so it is imperative that you ask for some details on this subject before taking a decision. Always do thorough research and make comparisons when possible.