ARTICLE
TOP TIPS FOR HIRING SUBCONTRACTORS
The construction industry is highly collaborative because it encompasses so many different trades. Your crew may be able to handle various tasks, but you’re likely going to need to subcontract some aspects of your project. When hiring a reputable, experienced subcontractor, these tips can help make the job easier.
VERIFY THEY ARE LICENSED AND INSURED
One of the top things to look into when “auditioning” a subcontractor for your job is to ensure they are licensed to do the work they’ll be performing on your site. The state of Utah offers an easy way to perform a licensee lookup at https://secure.utah.gov/llv/search/index.html. Another tip is to confirm that the subcontractor is insured. By checking both of these things, you are protecting yourself legally and are more likely to hire a worker/team you can trust.
REVIEWS AND REFERENCES
The next place to look before hiring is a company’s reviews and references. This is one of the top ways to get honest opinions about the company’s work ethic, work quality, and more. One tip we recommend is to read a variety of customer reviews. Reading only a few may give you an inaccurate, lopsided review of the subcontractor. When chatting with references, don’t shy away from asking the hard questions about:
- Why they hired that particular company
- The company’s communication about estimate and cost
- The company staying on budget and within schedule
- Any project delays
- The working style of the subcontractor and crew
- The cleanliness of the job site
TIMELINES AND BIDS
When selecting a subcontractor, make sure to write a set-in-stone timeline of the various phases of their job. When you can rely on all of your subcontracting teams to stick to their deadlines, there is an increased likelihood that the entire project will stay on schedule. In addition to timelines, you should also see how the subcontractor’s bids affect your budget. Keep in mind that the cheapest offer should not always make the top of your hiring list. With suspiciously low bids, you often get what you pay for. Make sure when comparing offers that you are comparing apples to apples.
WORKMANSHIP AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL
Finally, be sure to investigate the workmanship of the top subcontractors you’re looking to hire. You can achieve this by looking at their past projects or by interviewing past clients. Evident signs of sloppy work, cutting corners, or not keeping to code and regulation can be a tip off that you probably don’t want to hire them.
