5 Red Flags to Watch Out for When Choosing a Construction Company
When looking for a construction company to work on your home, it can be difficult to decide which one is the right fit. There are so many different providers with different services and prices. It can be challenging enough to figure out what kind of company you want in the first place. Like most people, you probably don’t go into business without doing your research first.
Fortunately, there are some red flags that you should look out for when choosing a construction company. If you find yourself overwhelmed by the options and confused about what type of company to choose, this article is a list of things that might help you make the right decision next time.
High-Pressure Tactics
One of the most common construction red flags is when a contractor starts setting a price right off the bat. There are many situations where a contractor may start working on a job before they have a chance to get a proper project estimate from you. When a contractor asks you for payment before doing any work—IT outsourcing for example—you should question it.
A good way to do this is to ask them for an project estimate and then ask what scope of work they would like to do. If they still want to charge you more than you’ve asked for, walk away from the conversation and don’t enter into any further negotiations.
No insurance
If a project management construction company doesn’t have insurance to cover their workers, equipment, and property, that is a clear sign that you should stay away from them. Working without insurance can lead to expensive lawsuits in many situations, so it’s something to be aware of before putting your money into a company.
One danger with working with contractors that don’t have insurance is that the project could fall apart due to a catastrophe. If a major earthquake, flood, or fire suddenly struck your area, you might end up with a pile of unusable concrete, a destroyed home, or a mess of legal problems.
If a contractor doesn’t have insurance to cover these events, your project will go bankrupt, and you would be responsible for paying them. This could cause you to end up in court for years, if not life, after having a bad experience with a contractor.
Often Shows Up Late to Meetings
It’s important to remember that meetings are the engine that drives a construction project. If a contractor doesn’t attend the meetings that are part of the initial planning process, it could be a sign that they aren’t interested in working on your project. It may also mean they aren’t well connected in your area, making getting work difficult or impossible down the road.
No Portfolio of Work
A history of work is one thing you will want to look out for when choosing a contractor. Knowing what a contractor has done before hiring them to work on your project is important. If a contractor has never done any work or bad work in the past, it’s a good idea to stay away from them.
It can be hard to know if a contractor has a track record of good work, so it’s a good idea to know what they have done. A good way to do this is to search the internet for contractor records. You can often find them for free or for a small fee. You can see what projects they have done, what was done on their behalf, and what projects they have worked on themselves.
They Seem Disorganized and Slow to Communicate, Even When Giving You a Quote
Communication is essential when it comes to construction. If you have problems with the work, have questions about it, or would just like a bit of clarification on something, make sure that the project construction companies you work with should have proper systems in place to communicate and work efficiently.
Without a clear understanding between you, you could end up with several problems down the road. There are many situations in which communication is key. If you find that the contractors you are working with are constantly putting ideas in your head that aren’t necessarily part of their job, you could end up feeling frustrated and abandoned.
It’s better to be safe than sorry and having a communication plan coupled with Archdesk’s software Construction Management Platform you can spell out the different communication channels and reduce the risk of anything happening.
There are other red flags to watch out for when choosing a contractor, but these are some of the most common. You should always do your due diligence before hiring anyone to work on your house.
