7 Questions to Ask a General Contractor Before Starting a Commercial Renovation in Worthington and Bexley, OH
Finding the right general contractor for a Worthington and Bexley, OH, renovation of a commercial property can take some time. A renovation project of any size requires expert skills, experience, clear communication, and a good working relationship. These questions to ask a contractor can help you narrow the choices and locate the professionals who can accomplish your goals.
Have you handled a similar project?
As a general contractor works a retail, restaurant, or other business renovation plan or builds an addition, there are obstacles to overcome and adjustments. A seasoned contractor understands that just because a plan is on paper doesn’t mean that it will turn out exactly the way the architectural plan looks.
Having experience with similar projects can help a general contractor anticipate problems before they happen. It can also give them insight into issues that need resolution for a successful outcome.
Do you have your own crew?
This question can get at how much time is involved and whether there may be potential bottlenecks, depending on whether subcontractors or other experts will be needed for your project. If the people who will be working on your commercial property are accustomed to working together, they are more likely to operate like a well-oiled machine to complete tasks and keep your project on the timeline.
What is the timeline for completion?
Understanding how long a project will take can help you make other decisions. You will want to know if you should make other arrangements for offices and rest rooms if you are attempting to keep your property fully operational during this time. Will this project disrupt the breakroom access? Will you need to plan for another entry point into the building?
There are many critical details in a commercial renovation that you must think through before the construction begins. Knowing a clear time frame can help you decide what accommodations are essential to maintaining a work environment during construction.
Are you familiar with the permit process?
Oftentimes commercial renovation will need to have permits pulled with the local municipality. In addition, the milestones may need to have inspections for construction to continue.
You could inquire about whether the general contractor you choose has a good working relationship with local authorities and knows the permit process well.
Will you have a project manager on site?
One of the keys to a construction project success can be having one dedicated person who can answer questions, handle problems, and generally be available at some time each day. Consider inquiring about having a project manager be onsite for a part of each day to meet with you and keep you apprised of the status.
Do you have sufficient insurance?
A general contractor should have proof of insurance for their workers, equipment, and other things that would need insurance. Liability insurance is often considered a non-negotiable for hiring a general contractor.
Do you offer a warranty?
You may also want to inquire whether there is a warranty for the work. Will the warranty cover the first year or longer? What does the warranty cover? How will they handle warranty work for the project?
Another aspect to investigate can be whether the warranty is all-inclusive or are there exclusions? You don’t want to end up paying for things to be fixed or corrected that should have been done properly from the beginning.
The right general contractor will work as a team with you to get your commercial renovation done properly and on time.
Related: How a General Contractor Keeps Projects on Schedule in Powell and Worthington, OH
About the Author
In 2017, David C. Ludolph II and Kody G. Kavanagh joined forces to create PropertyWorx—one of Central Ohio’s leading full-service property solutions companies. With combined experience of over 50 years, we pride ourselves on taking both residential and commercial properties to the next level, by providing home and business owners with all they need to update, transform, and tend to their properties.
