{"id":1656,"date":"2024-04-24T08:33:22","date_gmt":"2024-04-24T12:33:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.carltonbuildingservices.com\/?p=1656"},"modified":"2024-03-29T15:36:14","modified_gmt":"2024-03-29T19:36:14","slug":"construction-bids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carltonbuildingservices.com\/construction-bids\/","title":{"rendered":"How to evaluate construction bids and choose the right contractor"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s time to renovate your storefront or condo complex, and you\u2019ve collected construction bids from multiple contractors in town. The only problem? The bids are overwhelming, to say the least. You have no idea how to choose the right contractor for your commercial construction project.<\/span><\/p>\n

Fortunately, you\u2019re in the right place. This guide overviews the most important parts of a construction bid and offers tips to ensure you work with the <\/span>best commercial contractor in Virginia<\/span><\/a> for your project.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read it carefully<\/span><\/h2>\n

Before deciding on a contractor for your commercial renovation, you want to accept bids from multiple contractors. These should be local, licensed contractors with great reputations (though we\u2019ll get to how you evaluate a contractor\u2019s reputation later).<\/span><\/p>\n

Once all construction bids are in, read each one carefully. Highlight anything you don\u2019t understand and write down any questions. Take those questions and points of clarification into a final conversation with contractors before deciding who to work with.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Scope of work<\/span><\/h2>\n

The most important, and often overlooked, part of a construction bid is the scope of work. For each bid you receive, judge how well the contractor described the work that would be done and if they set a <\/span>realistic timeline<\/span><\/a> to finish the work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When evaluating scope, the inclusion of a <\/span>general conditions clause<\/span><\/a> is a good sign that the contractor understands the work necessary to complete the project. A general conditions clause lays the groundwork for how a contractor supervises and manages projects.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This clause will also lay out the pricing for specific parts of the project, like administrative work and having a project manager on site. It will also review different processes the contractor has in place to successfully manage your project. A clear, defined general conditions clause is a good sign of a transparent contractor who understands the manpower, supplies, and logistics of completing your renovation, remodel, or build out.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reputation<\/span><\/h2>\n

While the scope and price are important, the reputation of the contractor matters too. At a minimum, you want to work with a <\/span>licensed commercial contractor<\/span><\/a>. But this is at a minimum.<\/span><\/p>\n

You should also look for other signs of a contractor who knows what they are doing and is excellent at communicating about projects. These signs include:<\/span><\/p>\n