If you’re considering hiring sub-contractors to help you with your next project, you need to ensure you know what you’re getting into before it’s too late.
Hiring a sub-contractor to help with your business can be scary, especially if you’ve never hired one.
You’ll need to make sure that you hire someone who understands what you need and wants to work with you, but how do you know you’re hiring the right person?
While it might seem like an intimidating task, it doesn’t have to be that difficult.
To avoid problems down the line, check out these five things to look for while hiring a sub-contractor.
By keeping these points in mind, you can ensure that your experience working with sub-contractors is the best it can be! Read on to learn more!
Good subcontractor management starts before the building has even begun.
In other words, don't spend time worrying about getting the best team together on your site if you have yet to spend some time finding out who those people are!
The best practices when it comes to subcontractors include:
Your job will be much easier with the right professionals lined up. Take your time with this aspect of the process. Be sure to pre-qualify those professionals even if you have worked with them before—things might change, and they could lose their certifications or key team members, resulting in poorer quality work.
This can all happen without you knowing, so it is in everyone's best interest that you, as a general contractor, are clear when giving instructions.
Things will inevitably change as a project progresses. If you communicate these changes clearly and promptly, you are more likely to meet your client's expectations; if you don't, you risk having an unhappy client.
Give the person you've hired a trial period. During this time, your new employee will have time to prove themselves worthy of your assigned task. Word-of-mouth is only sometimes reliable for hiring decisions; ensure they can do the job effectively and work well with others before extending their contract past the month.
Along with researching the person you hire, ensure they have all the appropriate licenses and insurance necessary for the job.
When subcontractors are hired, make sure they also have liability insurance or else it could cost a lot of money in legal fees if something goes wrong on site.
General contractors typically wield a lot of power regarding relationships with subcontractors.
To obtain more business in the future, those working under them will go out of their way to accommodate every demand- no matter how unreasonable- and ensure the General Contractor is content.
As a general contractor, you want to refrain from abusing this power. While subcontractors may continue working with you, for now, they might need more motivation to give their all to each project.
In extreme cases, some contractors might decide it's time to say goodbye for good.
Professionals who know how to manage subcontractors wisely recognize the importance of getting important commitments in writing.
When verbal agreements are made, they can easily be forgotten or disputed and may not hold up in court like a commitment you make in your written contract with them.
Software like 247PRO can help you send out bid requests and sign them electronically, making it easier for you and your sub-contractor to communicate about the job, payment, and everything else.
For this reason, if something is very important to you or the client, ensure it's written down so there are no potential disagreements.
No contractor has the same fee schedule. Refrain from judging someone based on how much they charge for each hour of work - even if it's much lower than what others charge.
It could mean that this person hasn't been in business for very long and needs to gain more experience before they can charge more for their labor. Likewise, a person may charge higher hourly rates than an average subcontractor; however, this does not mean their skillset is superior to all others. When choosing who to work with, consider more than just price - choose someone that best suits your needs.
Follow these tips, and know that finding a quality contractor for your construction company can be a smooth process.
Prospecting talented subcontractors might take a little time, but they're worth it. With some good old-fashioned investigating and asking the right questions, you'll avoid most of the hassles of working with someone new. Give all applicants the chance to present themselves as legitimate candidates who can do the job well and verify their qualifications. Search their past work, and sit down with them to learn more about what they offer. For added reassurance, see them firsthand before you sign anything so you can ensure everything aligns with your needs. As a contractor, you should always look for ways to simplify the tasks for you and your team. Consider using an estimating software like 247PRO to send bid requests, create accurate estimates, send invoices to your clients, and so much more. Start your 14-day free trial today and let's build better, TOGETHER!
