In an industry that is currently dealing with a shortage of labour, one of the biggest problems commercial builders can face when hiring a commercial fit-out specialist is the risk the business will deliver poor workmanship or fall through.
When this happens, builders are often left to deal with compromised quality, an uncompleted job, a derailed project schedule or forking out for unexpected costs.
Builders need to trust that the commercial fit-out specialists they hire for their construction projects are reliable and aren’t going to let them down.
They need to know that their trade partner has the capability to deliver the project and has the capacity to do so.
To ensure you’re hiring a reliable commercial fit-out specialist, it’s crucial to thoroughly vet them for capability and capacity.
Here’s how…
Ensuring capability
To ensure your commercial fit-out specialist has the capability to deliver your project, the following checks are essential.
1. Check accreditations
Ensure the commercial fit-out specialist has the relevant industry accreditations and certifications.
Being a Master Builders member and a member of the Association of Wall and Ceiling Industries (AWCI) are good indicators of the company’s competence and adherence to industry standards.
2. Review past work
Visit the commercial fit-out specialist’s website or ask for a copy of their capability statement to look at the previous projects they have worked on.
Consider the complexity, scale and quality of their work and how this aligns with the requirements for your construction project.
3. Check the financial value of previous projects
Assess the financial value of the projects they have completed. This is a key indicator of the capability of a commercial fit-out specialist.
If you’re a Tier 2 builder and you need a trade partner that’s capable of dealing with the complexity that comes with a $5M plus project, knowing that the company has completed commercial fit-outs successfully on similar large-scale projects is a must.
4. Review testimonials and references
Seek out testimonials and references from the commercial fit-out specialist’s past clients.
This can provide valuable insights into their reliability and quality of work.
Word of mouth is very strong in the construction industry so finding out more about a commercial fit-out specialist’s reputation and workmanship through your networks won’t take a long time.
5. Assess their communication skills
A top tier commercial fit-out specialist will have exceptional communication skills. It’s crucial in construction projects.
Commercial fit-out specialists need to be able communicate clearly and transparently with the client, but also with the various other trades they need to work in with to make sure a project is delivered on time, especially on large scale construction projects.
There are some easy ways to check if your commercial fit-out specialist has the right communication skills.
You can check with past clients and your networks for any feedback but an early telltale sign of good communication is paying attention to their initial interactions with you.
Look out for how responsive they are to your queries and concerns and whether they can provide the information you’re seeking.
Ensuring capacity
To ensure your commercial fit-out specialist has the capacity to deliver your project, these checks can save you from a lot of stress and having to put out fires down the track.
1. Evaluate business operations
It’s essential that the commercial fit-out specialist you hire has a robust workforce and the necessary resources to take on your project.
Assess whether they have enough skilled workers to handle your project and inquire about the qualifications and experience of their team.
If the commercial fit-out specialist relies on subcontractors, ask them how they vet and manage these relationships. A well-managed network of reliable subcontractors can be an asset to your project.
2. Check financial stability
Financial stability is a key marker of capacity, particularly in the construction industry.
Ensuring your commercial fit-out specialist is financially stable means they’re less likely to face cash flow issues that could impact your project.
Ask your commercial fit-out specialist what their revenue has been like for the last three years and what their projected turnover is, to rule out any alarm bells.
If you find that their projected turnover is a 400% increase in the last 12 months, you will want strong confirmation that the commercial fit-out specialist can handle that from a cash flow and staff perspective.
3. Review project load
Your construction project can’t afford to rely on a commercial fit-out specialist that has overcommitted themselves.
Ask your trade partner about their current project load and how they plan to manage your project alongside others.
4. Assess handling unforeseen issues
There’s always a chance your construction project is going to encounter unforeseen issues so you need to be able trust that your trade partners can work with you to solve issues and still deliver a quality outcome, on time and on budget.
Talk to your commercial fit-out specialist about their contingency plans for unforeseen issues. How have they dealt with curveballs in the past? Do they have capacity to add additional resources to your project if required?
A capable commercial fit-out specialist should have strategies in place to address any unexpected challenges.
Conclusion
Taking the time upfront to vet that your commercial fit-out specialist has both the capability and capacity to handle your project can save you a lot of potential stress and costly issues down the track.
Using these checks as due diligence will not only protect your investment, but give you peace of mind your commercial fit-out specialist will ensure your construction project is delivered on time and to the high standard your customers expect.
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