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Not all property owners realize how many different types of contractors work on any given building. Even constructing a basic residential home usually requires concrete contractors, framers, plumbers, electricians, and other specialists, and when it comes to large commercial properties, things get even more complicated.
Property owners shouldn’t have to worry about finding and hiring different subcontractors to help with their work. Instead, they should hire construction management contractors. This article will focus on how to hire commercial construction management contractors.
What to Look For
The first step to take is to ensure that the construction managing firm is qualified. At a bare minimum, the company should have:
- All the required licenses, registrations, and permits
Personal liability and workers’ compensation insurance
Property damage insurance
Good reviews from former clients
Relevant experience
For property owners who want to build large commercial or industrial structures in Wisconsin, the choice is obvious. CCI Commercial Contractors is the leading construction management firm in the area.
Services Offered
Every contractor offers a slightly different set of services. While it’s obvious that commercial building projects shouldn’t be managed by residential contractors, there are also some other important distinctions that property owners need to know about. Construction managers often specialize in one of the following areas.
New Construction
Some construction managers specialize in new construction, meaning they implement project designs created by architects or engineers. Some companies also provide design-build services for projects that don’t require certified blueprints. For new construction, contractors handle everything from permitting and inspections to sourcing materials and hiring skilled workers or subcontractors.
Turnkey Projects
With turnkey projects, property owners must place a great degree of trust in their construction managers. Once a contract that details the project vision and budget is drawn up and signed, the construction manager takes care of everything else.
Project Takeovers
One of the biggest problems with hiring insufficiently experienced construction managers is that doing so can leave projects in the lurch halfway through if they get off to troubled starts. When this happens, it’s even more important to hire a highly skilled new construction management contractor to take over the project. Starting in the middle is never easy, and the company will need to assess the project’s current status, resolve the challenges that brought it to a halt, and steer it back on schedule, all while making sure that everything is up to code and within the project budget.
Site Improvements
Site improvements involve changing a piece of property to accommodate new instruction or improve aesthetics. Contractors who offer these services focus on pre-construction processes such as soil grading, storm water management, and utility installation.
Renovations and Remodels
Managing a project that involves an existing structure requires a different set of skills. Construction managers must be careful to preserve some building elements throughout the project and are often called on to make judgment calls that could alter the final plan. Because there are almost always unknowns within existing buildings, construction managers who undertake renovations and remodels must be skilled at communicating with clients and preventing spiraling costs.
Work With Industry-Leading Experts
Commercial and industrial building projects should never be undertaken by amateurs. Check the construction manager’s credentials and portfolio and don’t be afraid to ask for testimonials from previous clients. Doing some extra research can help property owners to ensure they’re working with industry leaders, not contractors that are just starting out.
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