How to choose a general contractor for a commercial construction project?

If you want to start a business, before considering choosing a general contractor in commercial construction, you must consider what you are looking for in your project. Is this for a new construction or for a renovation project? Is it for your own business or for a future franchise? No two projects are alike and each project comes with its own set of requirements.

This guide will help you choose the best commercial construction general contractor who will help you get your project off the ground and complete it as soon as possible.

Do I really need a general contractor in commercial construction?

You must first take a step back and think about your whole commercial construction project, and consider all the aspects that this project involves. Is this a project you can do yourself or do you have to do business with a general contractor? If the project seems too big for you to manage effectively on your own, hiring a general contractor would probably be the best option for your commercial building project to be successful. Before hiring a general commercial construction contractor, make sure you have assessed your project from all angles, and made clear plans that your contractor can easily work with.

If you are embarking on a commercial construction project for the first time, you may be tempted, for economic reasons, to do the work yourself. On the other hand, considering the quantity of tasks to be carried out and the time you could lose doing the research yourself, a general contractor will be able to help you better build your project, find the best elements (site location, subcontracting, choice of materials, construction monitoring, etc.).

In the majority of cases, the general contractor is more than an outside helper on a construction site. He can also help you understand and deal with any legal issues that may arise. Depending on the type of zoning and type of construction, you will need permits or even adherence to specific regulations. If you are working on a commercial construction project, do you have all the necessary knowledge of construction contract licensing without the need for outside help? The risks of legal problems added to the very demanding work of constantly monitoring each stage of construction can become overwhelming to manage alone.

Here are some questions you can ask yourself to know if you really need a general contractor in commercial construction:

What kind of project am I working on and how big is it?

Do I have the time and resources to handle all the details of the project, like hiring workers, subcontractors, and sourcing all the materials you need?

If you answered no to several of these questions, you absolutely must do business with a general contractor in commercial construction who has all the resources, contacts, and experience required for you to carry out your commercial building project with complete peace of mind.

What is my base budget for my commercial construction project?

After the idea for a project, the budget is the most important aspect you need to look into. In construction, unpredictable costs are practically inevitable (even more so if you are not an expert in the field. The first thing you can do before hiring a general construction contractor is to precisely define a reasonable budget right from the start – and stick with it – and those little surprises along the way shouldn’t scare you.

Knowing your basic budget will better target your expectations and it will be easier to make adjustments to it if necessary. Because of his expertise in the matter, your contractor will be able to complete your budget, which will become increasingly precise, and you will have little or no surprise costs down the line.

In the event that you choose not to hire a general contractor, here is a situation that could arise. For example, if you haven’t done the necessary research on hiring costs, and you end up exceeding your initial budget by hiring a contractor along the way. During the project, a superfluous problem arises; with him, expenses that you had not anticipated, or even a task that you believe you can do by yourself without a contractor, which makes you spend excessively.

Getting a general contractor on the scene will be money well spent, and will undoubtedly save you on those “surprise costs”.

What are the timelines for your project?

If you think you’re getting overzealous when planning the schedule for your commercial construction project, stop now. When will you have access to your construction site? When will your tools and materials be delivered? When should the project be completed? Planning your project schedule depends not only on the type of project or the amount of work to be done, but also on the permits required, the employees to be hired, the weather and more. Apart from your budget, the schedule and planning of your project is your main guide; so it is essential to create it as soon as possible.

Not only is your project planning important for you as a manager, but also for your general contractor, who will know better what to expect. Fortunately, with the help of a general construction contractor, you will have a planning specialist on hand with whom you can adjust your schedule so that it suits your needs perfectly. You will therefore be more protected from unpleasant surprises and unforeseen events during your project.

Now that you have prepared the preliminary stages of your project, all you have to do is find a general contractor. But how do you choose the right contractor who will listen to your needs and help you see your project through to completion? Here are the four points to consider when choosing a general contractor for your commercial construction?