Industry
Fact-checked

At WiseGEEK, we're committed to delivering accurate, trustworthy information. Our expert-authored content is rigorously fact-checked and sourced from credible authorities. Discover how we uphold the highest standards in providing you with reliable knowledge.

Learn more...

How do I Choose the Best Commercial Building Contractors?

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

Choosing the best commercial building contractors is a process of searching for contractors with the right amount of experience and a good track record. Another important consideration is finding contractors that can offer competitive pricing. One of the first things to consider when choosing commercial building contractors is whether the contractors have previously built structures similar in type and size to the project in question. Commercial building contractors who have never built a shopping mall with multiple levels before, for example, would probably not be the best choice for a six-story shopping and entertainment complex.

Another important consideration is the contractor's track record. Ask for references and contact the people who have previously worked for them. Ask about the quality of the work, whether the commercial building contractors were able to stick to a promised schedule, the quality of the finished product, and whether they were easy to work with in general. Also, visit the structures that commercial building contractors have worked on to see the results first hand. Finding out which contractors built some of the best commercial spaces in one's area is sometimes a good way to begin the search.

Finding a good contractor is a process of searching for one with excellent experience and a track record of completing projects.
Finding a good contractor is a process of searching for one with excellent experience and a track record of completing projects.

There are a number of ways to begin a search for good commercial building contractors. One way is to go to a trade show. Many building contractors will have booths at trade shows where people can gather information about various companies and speak with representatives about the company's history, abilities, and specialties. This is a good way to meet a number of commercial building contractors at once and do a quick comparison of them. Once a list of potential commercial building contractors has been compiled, the project can be sent out to bid.

An important part of choosing the best commercial building contractors is choosing one that offers a fair price. It is key to be wary of prices that seem too good to be true. In many cases, a bid that is much lower than the rest indicates that the contractor creating the bid has not properly assessed the time and materials that are required to complete the project, which can lead to serious delays and related problems later on. When choosing among the bids that seem to be fair, refer to the information that was previously gathered about the contractor's history and abilities.

Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for WiseGEEK, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

Learn more...
Diane Goettel
Diane Goettel

In addition to her work as a freelance writer for WiseGEEK, Diane is the executive editor of Black Lawrence Press, an independent publishing company based in upstate New York. She has also edited several anthologies, the e-newsletter Sapling, and The Adirondack Review. Diane has a B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College and an M.A. from Brooklyn College.

Learn more...

Discuss this Article

Post your comments
Login:
Forgot password?
Register:
    • Finding a good contractor is a process of searching for one with excellent experience and a track record of completing projects.
      By: Steve Cukrov
      Finding a good contractor is a process of searching for one with excellent experience and a track record of completing projects.