Hiring the right contractor for your construction project is essential to making sure that it runs smoothly and within budget. To help you make the right choice, we’ve put together a list of four questions you should ask your contractor before hiring them.
Can I see your insurance certificates?
Under UK law, all building contractors should possess public liability insurance, so it’s a good idea to request to see your contractor’s insurance certificates in person. If your contractor hires a team of employees, you should also check to see that they have employer’s liability insurance. If your contractor is unable to or refuses to provide you with proof of insurance, look elsewhere immediately!
Do you have experience in completing similar projects?
When you’re choosing a contractor, it’s important to make sure that they have proven experience in completing projects similar to yours. It’s also a good idea to enquire as to the kind of properties they’ve worked on to see if they are familiar with their unique quirks.
If you want to find out more about your contractor’s experience, ask about projects they’ve completed that they’re proud of, how long they have been in business and how their business is doing at the moment. Once they’ve told you this information, check their website to see if the information on there corroborates their story.
What is the estimated timeline for the project?
If your contractor gives you a very precise timeline for completing the project when they haven’t completed a project like yours before and you haven’t given them much detail, be wary. It’s important that your contractor doesn’t over promise and under deliver. Instead, they should give you a rough estimate if possible and explain some of the factors that might affect the project’s timeline. If your contractor is unable to elaborate on the time they’ve given you or you have a suspicion that their promises seem too good to be true, it’s a good idea to look elsewhere.
How do you deal with changes to the project specification?
If unexpected changes occur in the midst of a project, it’s important to know beforehand how it will be dealt with. Will your property be returned to its original state? Will you be given a refund? Check their policy and make sure that you have it in writing to refer back to later.
If you’re in need of construction or civil engineering services from licensed experts, get in touch with our team at Lyndon Contracting Ltd today.
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