Once a construction company takes on a project, it has to employ the most suitable and reliable trade partners to finish it successfully. Without steadfast electricians, plumbers, framing specialists, and other subcontractors, the process can be staggered, and the final result can be far from the client’s expectations.
Pre-qualifying subcontractors is essential when gathering a team, as this process can help avoid project delays and safety issues. You can check out how to pre-quality trade partners straight at https://area.us/blog/guides/trade-partner-pre-qualification-guide and explore the most common missteps contractors make during the process below. This will help you carry out all your construction projects to the highest standard.
Skipping Pre-Qualification
Not all contractors take the pre-qualification process seriously. Some skip it completely, rather relying on word of mouth and expecting the employee to show up when needed. This is a serious mistake and can ruin any project from the get-go. You can’t rely purely on the subcontractor’s experience while making them your trade partner, even if it’s someone you know well or referred to by other employees.
Checking the worker’s financial stability, documentation and qualifications, safety record, and licensing is crucial to protect your entity and project from common risks. Nowadays, you can do it through services like Area automatically to save the hassle.
Choosing the Cheapest Options
We get it – not all companies prefer to hire the most expensive and experienced professionals. And that’s okay. But do not focus solely on the price when selecting trade partners for your new project. This approach can lead to poor job quality, unsafe labor, missed deadlines, and unforeseen costs.
Price matters for everyone involved in the niche. So, try to find the best option while checking out the expert’s safety and financial documentation, experience, references, and other capabilities. In the long run, it’s best to splurge rather than cut costs on your trade partners.
Ignoring Safety Training
Safe labor is not just a box to tick – it’s a vital part of your success rate. It should always be in focus, and all your employees should have excellent safety histories on past construction sites. Safety violations lead to accidents and project shutdowns, both posing a huge risk for GCs. Make sure you check these during pre-qualification:
- EMR (Experience Modification Rate);
- OSHA 300 logs;
- safety program documentation;
- workforce safety training practices.
Only when these are valid and up-to-date can you hire the subcontractors of your choice.
Hiring Unfitting Professionals
We have already mentioned that all subcontractors you hire should be both experienced and affordable for your company. But they also have to match your work niche. One common mistake GCs make is hiring someone based on their popularity and branding. While the subcontractor may be praised in the community, they still might not fit the project.
When interviewing potential candidates, ask them about their common project types, sizes, and delivery models. Inquire about their available equipment. Ensure they are a perfect fit first.
Using Outdated Pre-Qualification Methods
Pre-qualification no longer has to be through spreadsheets, text documents, or phone interviews. Now, GCs don’t even have to do anything manually. Services like Area automate the qualification and onboarding processes and eliminate inconsistency, errors, and missing information. Once the data is collected in one place, you can easily compare several candidates and understand who you want to hire for the project at hand.
Not Updating Qualifications
Rehiring a subcontractor is a great idea – until it isn’t. It is important to check their qualifications again and update old data before hiring them for a new project. Even a year is enough for some documentation to become outdated, including insurance and safety certification. Update certification and qualification regularly.
Neglecting to Set Expectations
The preferred candidate is hired, and the documents are legally binding on the two parties. Yet, the subcontractor who seemed to be the perfect fit is not succeeding at their task. Unfortunately, that happens, and some trade partners do not understand the expectations of their team. Before hiring, always share a full scope of work, deadlines, and project benchmarks.
Pre-Qualification – First Step of Your Project
For some, pre-qualification is just another boring process of manually checking documentation and credentials. Others know it’s a chance for a clear dialogue to ensure trust and set expectations for the project. By avoiding the mistakes listed above, you can hire the best experts who suit your company’s needs.
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