Being a large financial commitment, you’ll have to be picky with the contractor you’re hiring to build and develop your home. Many veteran construction companies exist everywhere nearby. Surely, they have extensive experience in the industry, but could they answer all your questions regarding home development? Here are some of the best questions you need answered to pinpoint the best tradesmen in the business.

 

1. Your Business Has Been Established When?

 

Most companies fail within their first five years. These five formative years are a series of plans that include trial and error on part of their contractors. However, even if they have gone beyond five years, this question is not enough to answer your possible queries about the smallest details regarding your house repair.

 

2. How Many Employees Does Your Company Have?

 

Most specialist construction companies claim that they have a business more than 10 years. Most of them would say they are working with experienced specialists. A construction company could receive as many as 5 to 10 calls in a day for work, and most of them may be engaged with on-going contracts. If there’s less than 30 employees working in a construction company, you may expect some delays with the work they can provide you.

 

3. What Procedures Do You Have And Your Years Of Experience Using Them?

 

Companies may claim they have experienced and knowledgeable specialists in their company. However, you’ll have to know if they regularly update their construction methods. Construction methods become outdated as equipment capabilities continue to improve. Regardless of their age, if they couldn’t keep up with the trends or they could not optimize their procedures in improving service speed and durability of work, they aren’t worth your money.

 

4. Do They Measure Customer Satisfaction?

 

Some experienced construction companies put their best foot forward. They showcase their projects and capabilities. However, they wouldn’t advertise much about customer service, except if a customer might not be satisfied, they would return their money. Remember, you need a dedicated team of specialists to work on constructing your dream home improvement design.

 

5. Are Your Professionals Licensed?

 

Age-old construction businesses make sure their specialists are licensed to perform their construction routines on your home. An unlicensed specialist has no experience and training in construction despite their experience. They could potentially harm the foundations of your home. Companies could also escape their liabilities regarding after-service insurance because they could just claim the unlicensed specialist did not work in their company.

 

In Conclusion:

 

Having the right questions helps you screen a construction company’s behavior and customer support. You need a dedicated team of specialists and the guarantee of the construction company through insurance. If they have an unlicensed specialist on board, this could do more harm than good (and more expenses on your part) for your home.

 

Your home is your sanctuary. Always keep it safe and make sure you give it the quality service it deserves by asking these useful questions. If you have some more questions that would prove useful in screening construction companies, let us know in the comments!

Doing a construction? Or a home renovation perhaps? Well, basically the hardest process into starting all these might be searching for the right contractor. How will you be able to find the right contractor?

Most of the times, homeowners hire the first person they interview. “They get so excited that they made the commitment (to do the renovation or upgrade), that they forget the job they have in front of them,” says Mike Homes, a professional contractor and host of HGTV’s Holmes on Holmes.

“One thing I’ve learned: It will take you longer to find the right contractor and check out the job, than to do the job.”

Here are the 8 Tips on how you will be able to find a good contractor:

1. Get Recommendations

Naturally you would want to ask other people, your friends or neighbours and would ask for recommendations. After all, they may have good experience with the contractors that they previously hired.
According to Paul DiMeo, designer and co-star of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, “You want to make sure that, whoever you’re using, that you have a personal referral, That’s why it’s best to talk to a friend.” But a good referral alone is not just enough. A friend or someone might have liked the contractor but that doesn’t mean that the job that the contractor did was good. Still, it is a good starting point.

2. Do Phone Interviews

Well, you’ve got your list on your friend’s recommendations and of your own, the next thing to do is to call all your prospects and ask them the following questions:
• Do they take on projects of your size?
• Are they willing to provide financial references, from suppliers or banks?
• Can they give you a list of previous clients?
• How many other projects would they have going at the same time?
• How long have they worked with their subcontractors?
The answers to these questions could help you with their qualifications.

3. Meet Face to Face

Communication is very important. If you’d already picked someone from your phone interview, meeting and talking to them personally is even of greater help. Although, the personality that they may be showing can also fool you. Better also check their history backgrounds with previous clients for disputes and other helpful information’s and that’s where Tip #4 comes.

4. Investigate the Facts

Determine the contractor’s specialty. As discussed in Tip #3, check their history backgrounds. Call and check with their previous clients. You could also visit the contractor to where he currently works and see how he progresses and the results.

5. Make Plans, get Bids

If you now have the list of your contractor prospects, you will now have to ask them for their breakdown of expenses, cost of materials, labour and profit margins. Generally materials account for 40 percent of the total cost; the rest covers overhead and the typical profit margin, which is 15 to 20 percent.

6. Set a Payment Schedule

Payment schedules can also speak to a contractor’s financial stats and work ethics. Discuss the matter carefully with them.

7. Don’t Let Price Be Your Guide

Don’t let price be your guide. It is after all better to be spending more and get the best and comfortable result in construction.

8. Put it in Writing

Planning and recording are always the key in every process. Record every deal agreements, the details and the process for the construction project. Set construction process schedule.

Having a construction marketing plan is important. Developing a construction plan is even more as it is critical to the success of your company. Marketing isn’t always just selling and advertising. Marketing is also a strategic plan that you develop for your company.

If you’re thinking in opening a construction business, here are 6 steps that could help you:

1. Determine Your Objective

You must be able to know what your objective is. If you already know your objective, achieving it will be easy as you may be able to know what will be the things you should and shouldn’t do. It will be a good thing for it can guide you in every decisions you will do.

2. Perform a SWOT Analysis – Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats

The SWOT analysis helps in identifying the internal and external factors that will affect the company’s future performance. It evaluates the business environment in a detailed manner so as to take strategic decisions for future course of action.
Strengths and Weaknesses are internal. You can make a list of the company’s positive points (strengths) and negative points (weakness). A company’s weakness can be converted into strength by recognising it and by making effort in that direction. Opportunities and Threats are external. SWOT analysis can improve company performance.

3. Analyse the Current Market

Having a marketing objective and a SWOT analysis helps you get the result that you want and a potential analysis of areas that you see as revenues for new markets or strengthening current markets.

4. Create a Marketing Budget for Your Construction Business

Having a marketing budget is really not that easy. Do set a solid figure on how much you will be willing to spend and develop within the limit of your budget. Just in case, prepare also your backup plan.

5. Develop Strategy and List Tactics to Market Your Construction Company’s (The Marketing Mix)

Have a list of opportunities that you feel confident in marketing to then create your budget. There are many strategies on how you will be able to advertise your business like the local paper, magazine, internet and radio shows. Do a market research and see to it that you are targeting your target market.

6. Monitor the Results

Check your statistics and monitor client feedbacks. Having a good impression on your client is very helpful for your business.

Something you purchased must have very good value or else it would be a waste of money. The same can be said for construction companies. If you’re hiring a contractor who has a bad track record, you might be paying money undue for them, regardless how cheap.

So how do you know if you’re hiring a premiere company? Compare them to the top 100. But then again, you might just see their quality based on consumer reviews and their actual market prices.

When it comes to landscaping and gardening in general, they definitely require a great amount of money – sometimes even an overwhelming amount. There is the materials then design and labour plus the cleaning and maintenance. In essence, these then compel you to really invest in a good landscaping company that you can trust with your resources, especially of the monetary kind.

Now, conversely, let’s list down signs that show you are working with a landscaping business that is not around to offer you the excellent quality that you deserve:

1. Lenient with Licenses and Documents

It is normal that you have your guard up and ask your partner of legalities. These may be their government and/or industry licenses. If they do not move with haste, especially when you require to see these documents – they keep postponing it for many different reasons – then maybe those are excuses for you to not know they are not a legit business.

It is even safe that you start the collaboration with a contract and supposing they do not comply with it, even with just the formulating of one, then how can you be assured they are going to accomplish the goals that were set for the garden expanse?

2. Ambiguous Planning

Have you noticed that when you talk to them about your plans on the garden and landscape designs and what not, they just listen passively, agree but do not take any notes? That type of attitude is enough of a warning sign for you. They should even be more active than you when it comes to the planning process. They should send you written proposals and openly discuss all steps with you.

3. Poor Communication

Similar to the previous one would be this, poor communication. For this one though, this pertains to a scenario such as this: a layout has already been done and changes on it were not told to you. Basically, they did not inform you of any modifications that came with the project. That is just not right. Even if you are not one to be very much involved, like you are always there, but it is the responsibility of the firm and its representatives to communicate with you about anything and everything, big or small.

4. Random Staff

Since the work is being done in your residential premises, for instance, you need to know and familiarise yourself with the folks that are coming in and out. Nevertheless, if the company staff are people who keep changing, that is just strikingly unusual. There should be a set of individuals that are introduced to you, who will then be the ones to stay as long as the duration of your employment of them is. Supposing there are people out of the blue, then you should, without hesitation, inquire about that to the company.

The Lambeth landscape gardeners aim to be not with these characters and attitudes. It is understandable that you are being suspicious but it is because you are just protecting your money.

Whenever the topic of heavy industry is discussed, the first thing that usually comes into mind is the hard labour, the hard work and struggle. Although Heavy Industries are not to be taken lightly for they are also important for the development of the agriculture, transportation, communication facilities and other industries.

In heavy industries, it is not always hard labour that gets the job going but also with use of automation and mechanization.

Here are the 7 importance of using industrial automation in the heavy industries.

1. Increased Productivity

The biggest and the most important aspect of industrial automation in the heavy industry is the increased efficiency and productivity. Machines can’t possibly replace humans but automated control systems can work continuously for long hours without compromising on accuracy. Men in turn, can just maintain, care and look at the machines for possible problems.

2. Improved Quality

Using automated machines can help you with your product quality control. Human error can be eliminated. Industrial automation, systems and processes can be monitored and controlled at all stages which will result in good quality product. And if the products produced are of good quality, clients and customers can rest assure and will rely on your business.

3. Reduced Costs

Industrial processes can continue running 24/7. It will definitely increase your productivity. The company can save on workforce costs, salaries, healthcare costs, pension and insurance coverage, paid holidays and other costs that come with hiring and training employees. Initially, automation would seem costly but in the long run, you will be able to save much.

4. Better Safety

Working in the heavy industry will mostly be dangerous. Accidents and injuries may constantly happen. By using industrial automation, it will help prevent these things from happening.

5. Remote Monitoring

Most of the industrial automated systems can be access at a distance. Ease of access is beneficial as it will be every convenient for the workers to monitor the systems and equipment’s.

6. Maintenance of Work Schedules

Managing work schedules is really crucial to the success and revenue generation of the company. Tasks needed to be sorted. It will be very much needed for real time information about the available resources and the condition of the workforce.

7. Gaining and Maintaining a Competitive Edge

It is necessary to be equipped with ample facilities that will help you gain and maintain a competitive edge in the volatile economy.

It’s been delayed awhile, but the family has managed to secure enough funds to add a new patio. Maybe you want a new garage. Maybe you want to add an additional floor.

 

You’ll want to hire the best construction company around to do your project for you. But even if you say that you have the best construction company with the best experience and knowledge in the field, you could be sure they have new members. You may also be certain these new members aren’t performing the best they could be compared to those who are already experienced in the field.

 

Here are three qualities you should look for in the team’s specialist list.

 

1. Chemistry

 

If you’re still unsure about hiring a particular construction company’s team of specialists, they could give you an inspection and prospection day. Construction companies would be sending a team of specialists of your home to provide you with a possible quote for a proposed project by the end of the day.

 

Observe the team members closely. Listen and see how they react to each other’s suggestions. If you find one of them having some trouble keeping up with the others, despite the reputation of the construction company, don’t consider choosing them. This is because mishaps could happen if there’s one cog in the machine that doesn’t fit.

 

2. Knowledge About Certain Materials

 

Before you decided that you needed your home improved, you must certainly have compiled knowledge about the materials you plan to use for your home. Do some more extensive research. During the day of consultation, ask one of the construction team members about the material you plan to use. If they can give you a professional and clear answer to your question, consider hiring them.

 

If your professionals couldn’t even answer a question about construction materials, don’t even consider hiring them. It reflects their discipline and their possible knowledge about their craft. Don’t let their brand’s name fool you.

 

3. Commitment

 

During the consultation phase, look at the specialist team members individually. Ask them a question. Observe their body language and tone. Commitment is an important thing especially if you’re planning to hire these contractors to build your new home. But if they couldn’t give you a tone of commitment or their body language looks annoyed or indifferent, don’t even consider hiring them.

 

You need professionals who would be willing to work for you. They should be willing to answer any question you might have and any possible troubles you need to address. If they are already expressing disagreement from the start, you have no business with them.

 

In Conclusion:

 

Specialist construction teams are often highly valued because of how their construction company’s brand includes them in the roster. Many of them may be veterans in the construction industry, but truly, some of them are still newly hatched in the industry.

 

It would be wise to keep this three-part criterion in memory as you discuss issues about your home with your contractor. Before you sign any form of contract, make sure that the attitude, the chemistry of the theme and the chemistry between you and the team members and their dedication to their work is unquestionable.

 

Often, most people would go for a construction company with a reputable name. However, constructing a design and building a home is more than just a reputable name. It also involves a great understanding of professionalism and workmanship that should make everything last for the years to come. You need five things from construction companies before you’re convinced you’re hiring the best.

 

1. Years of Experience

 

If you’re working with a company that has over 10 years of experience in the industry, you know that your house is in good hands. If they have a handful of veteran workers who had completed ambitious projects, you really know that they’re doing their job, and they’re very good at what they do.

 

Most of these veteran construction companies understand the needs of a house or a new home improvement project. At first glance, they could give you ideas. They can then improve on their ideas with their team and create a truly viable solution for your home’s needs.

 

2. Innovative Technology

 

Despite having a great deal of experience completing compelling projects, they are also up to date with the latest project management technologies for construction companies. The use of Building Information Modeling systems allow these construction companies to collaborate, design and improve their commercial construction projects before they even begin their work.

 

It may sound complicated, but given today’s technology, logistics, procedures, design improvements and other software can reduce greatly the time needed to fulfill a project.

 

3. Specialized Teams

 

Specialized teams are not necessarily a group of people that specialize in doing one thing. Every team member specializes in a certain element making him or her a very important part of the team. For example, there’s a drilling professional, a structure handling professional other than the foreman.

 

4. Guarantees the Project’s Durability and Workmanship

 

A reputable construction company understands that durability and workmanship is something they cannot guarantee in full. Despite having a good track record and a vast understanding of their trade, they value safety and the security of their work. Before you begin the project with them, they may ask you to sign up for property insurance they personally offer, or they may ask you to inquire with an insurance company if they could provide such security.

 

They also give warranties and extended warranties at the client’s request. Even veteran professionals cannot say for sure if their projects, given their best, could outlast the estimated time the house needs another maintenance routine and renovation project.

 

5. Complies With All Local Development Rules

 

Aside from hiring qualified specialists in their company, the best construction companies knows and complies with all safety measures needed when working with a construction development project. They will handle all the legalities needed. If they can, the construction company would pay for the fees then charge it to you upon completion of the contract.

 

In Conclusion:

 

Just like when you first bought your house, hiring a contractor is a huge financial commitment. Selecting the best is also an investment. These veteran construction companies may charge you, but you’ll find most of the items they charge you are for your own safety. You’ll also find that even if they charge you an additional for supplies and extended warranties, you will find them useful in the long run.