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11 Factors To Consider When Choosing a Contractor for Innovative Commercial Builds

A Businessman and General Contractor’s representative shaking hands at a construction site.

The right general contractor ensures success; the wrong one can spell disaster. Here’s how to optimize your choice.

Key takeaways:

  • The right general contractor delivers projects on time and within budget, according to your specifications.
  • There are key considerations when choosing a contractor for an innovative commercial build: its primary needs and the potential contractor’s qualifications, resources, and capabilities.
  • Proper due diligence can help you avoid trouble with legal authorities and costly mistakes.

Choosing the right general contractor for commercial construction is critical to success whether it’s a new build or renovation/expansion. A competent and reliable contractor completes projects on time and within budget while meeting high quality standards. By contrast, an inexperienced or negligent one creates quality issues, costly delays, uncertainty, and many other unwanted complications.

This guide provides a structured, detailed roadmap for effectively choosing a contractor for innovative commercial builds. Let’s dive in.

1. Project needs

Before looking for viable candidates, evaluate project needs to establish goals, objectives, priorities, constraints, and other critical parameters. Clearly communicate requirements to potential contractors and evaluate their proposals thoroughly. The primary considerations for most projects include schedule, budget, and the specific type of project. Your contractor must align with project needs for success.

2. Qualifications, expertise, and technical competence

Verify potential contractors’ necessary state and local certifications and licenses to perform construction projects in your region. Ensure they have comprehensive insurance that protects you from liability to property damage, accidents, or any other unforeseen construction mishaps.

Additionally, review contractors’ portfolios to ensure they’ve handled projects similar to yours, and are adept with state-of-the-art technology and sustainable practices.

3. Effective team and workforce

Commercial construction projects are complex undertakings that demand collaboration. Choose a contractor with a skilled and coordinated team. Engineers, architects, subcontractors, and tradespeople must work harmoniously to ensure project completion on time and within budget.

4. Risk management and safety

Commercial build projects inherently carry risk. Keeping visitors and employees safe must be a top priority. Poor safety practices pose risks to workers, and can shut down your site and create hefty fines, delays, or both.

Before hiring a contractor, check their safety rating and ensure their documented safety plan is compliant with Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations. Choose contractors with a total recordable incident rate (TRIR) and experience modification rating (EMR) of 1.0 or less.

5. Clear legal and contractual terms 

Carefully review contract terms and conditions to ensure the project framework — warranties, change orders, payment schedules, and timelines — is clear. Verify the contract complies with local laws and regulations, and seek legal counsel if necessary to ensure it protects your interests.

6. Robust communication and transparency

Effective communication and regular project progress reports are essential for innovative commercial builds. Find a general contractor who values open communication and gibes with your preferred communication style. 

Whether you want daily, weekly, or monthly meeting updates in person or via phone or email, the contractor must adapt to your needs and transparently communicate arising changes and challenges.

To evaluate whether a potential contractor is the right fit, carefully observe your interactions during interviews. Do they listen to your ideas and concerns? Are they responsive? How detailed are their answers? Contractors who demonstrate robust communication and transparency in the selection process are more likely to carry these qualities to the project.

7. Budgeting and cost control

Seek detailed cost estimates with comprehensive material and labor cost breakdowns at each stage, as well as fees related to meeting commercial building regulations. Carefully review contracts to ensure provided quotes account for the full scope of work. Ask for clarification about any conditions or terms that you don’t understand. A solid grasp of the project’s financial aspects helps keep budgets under control and prevents future misunderstandings and surprises.

8. Flexibility and adaptability

Select contractors capable of embracing change and adapting to meet unforeseen challenges or shifting requirements. Contractors with an agile approach to construction are generally better equipped to navigate unexpected hurdles and keep projects successfully on track.

9. Quality assurance and standards

Prioritize contractors that strictly adhere to building codes and quality control processes. Ensure they provide post-project assessments to ensure projects meet high safety and durability standards.

10. Encouraging innovation and creativity

Look for contractors who have adopted or will soon adopt) design collaboration and innovative building technologies like Building Information Modeling (BIM), 3-D printing, and construction drones. These improve operational efficiency, reduce building costs, and create safer work environments.

11. Efficient project closeout and handover

Careful planning smoothly transitions design to construction. Contractors should demonstrate proficiency with project closeout processes and provide post-project support and client-satisfaction assessments. These ensure loose ends are tied up before the handoff, and that the final build meets expectations.

Find a reliable General Contractor

Choosing contractors for innovative commercial builds is a critical decision that impacts success. A careful consideration of the factors we’ve discussed can help you choose the right partner. Researching and vetting contractors takes time, but investing in due diligence pays off long-term with quality, well-executed construction that meets clients’ needs. 

RPC General Contractors designs, develops, and constructs for a wide range of quality commercial projects. We’ve been in the construction business since 1987, helping over 10,000 clients realize their constructions goals through providing full-service, engineered solutions. 

Entrusting us with your next build gives you a reliable partner with a proven track record that ensures a reliable partner through every phase of construction, from concept to completion. 

Contact RPC General Contractors to learn more.


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