Are you relying on subcontractors to meet demand?

With a tight budget or schedule, subcontractors can make or break your project’s success. A great subcontractor can make the whole process smoother.

A bad one could cause delays, extra costs, and damage your reputation. And finding dependable, reliable contractors isn’t always easy. You don’t always know what you’re going to get. But there are things you can do to ensure quality work! Keep reading for these 5 things you can do to get the best sub contractors.

1. Don’t Base Everything on Cost

It’s tempting to pick the cheapest bid for your construction project, but this is a mistake. A sub contractor offering a lowball figure could be a clerical error. If not, it could be a sign they’re going to cut corners to get those costs down.

Construction quality should be a priority. You don’t want subcontractors that want to get in and out without putting the effort in. Lowball offers can be a sign that subcontractor performance will be low.

2. Be Selective

When you’ve got the right team, you’ll see how much easier your project becomes. For both high and low rise construction, be picky about who you’re hiring.

You should try to meet each subcontractor in person, or at least have a video call. When interviewing sub contractors, keep these questions in mind:

• Is their communication up to scratch?
• Do you have a bias against them?
• How do they handle challenges?
• What work have their done lately?

A good place to start is getting recommendations from trusted contacts. Once you get some names, search them online and check out their reputations.

3. Research Your Potential Sub Contractors

Before you pick someone, make sure they have the qualifications and skills to do the job well. Prequalification is where you assess the abilities of a sub contractor.

Most prequalifications look into these pieces of information:

• Litigation history
• Bonding & surety
• Insurance & Licensing
• Financial status
• Safety records
• Reference checks

This tells you how risky a particular sub contractor is. You need to know this for your risk mitigation plan for the project.

4. Learn From Past Experiences

You need to deal with issues right away. Because poor-performing subcontractors can wreck a project fast. Also, ignoring poor behavior and shoddy work sets a precedent that it’s ok to do.

If you believe a subcontractor isn’t performing right then try to coach them a little at first. Embrace challenges and growth with a mindset of encouragement and growth.

This can present learning opportunities, and create a more positive working environment. In turn, if subcontractors feel more positive, they’ll invest more into the project.

5. Make Use of the Latest Tech

Modern construction technological advances make it easier than ever to:

• Communicate
• Collaborate
• Boost productivity

This, in turn, leads to a boost in the quality of the service you provide (and your profits too).

Construction quality relies on insight, reaction, and communication. It’s important to make informed decisions fast, based on the most up-to-date info.

With the right bid management software, for example, you can avoid expensive reworks. It’ll also help keep projects on track, on budget and make sure you and subcontractors are on the same page.

Improving Your Sub Contractors Made Easy

So, there you have it! Building the team around you is essential when you tackle a construction project. That means you need great sub contractors you can rely on.

But having quality subcontractors isn’t enough. You need to make sure you have the right tools and heavy equipment too. To get access to the most trusted heavy equipment marketplace, sign up today.

www.eqpme.com