Choosing the Right Commercial Contractor in Virginia Beach

Virginia Beach is a great place to start a new construction project, thanks to its strong business community and warm weather (mostly) year-round. In fact, the city has been named one of the best cities in the US to start a business in and anyone who has been to a Virginia Beach Chamber of Commerce event understands just how many businesses here are thriving. 

In a town full of businesses, your physical location needs to stand out so people decide to stop at your store, not the competitors down the road. Commercial renovation projects with a seasoned contractor can get you there. 

Currently, there are over 200 licensed contractors in the Virginia Beach area. While that can seem like a large amount of contractors to choose from, there’s a few exercises you can do to narrow down the search. Here’s an easy, three step process to find the right commercial contractor in Virginia Beach. 

Step One: Clarify the Project Type

Before finding your commercial contractor in Virginia Beach, you need to be clear on what type of project you have. Here’s three questions to ask yourself to find the answer:

  • Is my project a new construction project or a renovation?
  • What type of new project or renovation is it? (Click here for guidance on types of renovations
  • Is the project in a specific part of Virginia Beach that might have additional regulations, such as a mall?

Step Two: Search Local

While there are some contractors who work in many cities (and even many states), these contractors are often balancing a lot of projects and aren’t as familiar with Virginia Beach regulations and legislation. To them, you are just one project in a queue of hundreds.

Instead, try to find a local contractor who works in your area–and has done multiple projects in Virginia Beach before. To find local commercial contractors in Virginia Beach, start by asking any business friends for referrals. You can also do a quick Google and Instagram search to see who comes up. 

Once you have a list of local commercial construction contractors, search through each one’s website. Check that they do the type of project needed, their past work, and any other key information on their website. From there, make a short list of contractors to reach out to for an interview. 

Step Three: Interview and Choose

Just like you would for an open role on your team, interview a couple contractors and see who stands out. When assessing contractors’ strengths, be sure to ask them about:

  • Past projects they’ve done in Virginia Beach
  • How familiar they are with local regulations
  • Any past or current clients you can call up as a reference

Beyond an understanding of the area, you also want a contractor who displays many green flags, such as:

  • A solid project management process
  • Good communication skills
  • A specific construction timeline
  • A written-out contract
  • Past projects similar to yours

At the end of the day, you should choose the contractor you feel most comfortable with. Any good commercial contractors in Virginia Beach will be communicative and possess a strong track record for building the future of their clients. 

Carlton Building Services in Hampton Roads Virginia

Carlton Building Services specializes in repairs, maintenance, renovations, remodelings and build-outs for a variety of clients in Hampton Roads, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake areas. We have years of experience handling projects in the retail, office, and healthcare space and would love to work with you on your next project!

To learn more about our services, check out past project highlights or contact Carlton Building Services to see how we can help with your next project. 

 

JP Carlton

J.P. Carlton

J.P. Carlton is the founder of Carlton Building Services, a Hampton Roads-based construction company.