Have you ever hired a contractor and then regretted your choice? It’s sad but true that rogue traders just aren’t as rare as they should be, and many people have stories of being ripped off or left with shoddy workmanship and a company that goes bust after taking money.

At GI Sykes, we’ve seen it firsthand. We’ve been there to help pick up the pieces many times, and every time it’s frustrating. We’re on a mission to improve the construction industry’s reputation, and with this article are focussing on a few things that can help ensure you never end up caught out by unscrupulous contractors. So here are our top three mistakes made when choosing a commercial contractor and what you should do instead.

1 – Making a Cost-Led Decision

Let’s not beat around the bush – most of the time, it comes down to money. Budget is a critical part of any project, but making a decision based on cost alone is a bad one.

Cost in a construction project comes down to the following factors:

• Cost of materials
• Cost of experience
• Cost of time
• Cost of resources

Cost of Materials

This is the easiest one to see – if you buy cheap materials, they’re just not as good. That doesn’t mean you always have to pick the most expensive materials for your job, but it does mean you shouldn’t ever be saying ‘just get the cheapest’. Things are cheap for a reason – and usually, that reason is that they’re worse.

While there are some exceptions, where a top-quality material is low in price because it’s abundant, or perhaps a sale is happening to make way for new designs, on the whole, cheap materials:

• Are less durable
• Have manufacturing defects
• Are themselves made from other cheap materials
• Increase waste

This means they won’t last as long (an essential when it comes to construction!) and can lead to other problems.

Consider something as simple as a plank of wood – quality planks are able to bear the load, are properly planed to exacting specifications, and will last the test of time. Using them means your construction is more stable, will stay solid for years longer, and is easier to construct, cutting down on labour costs.

A poor quality plank may be warped, making it unsuitable for use or requiring additional work to get it into shape, with defects that weaken it structurally, or even make it unfit for purpose. It doesn’t feel like saving money when you are taking in brand new materials and then immediately putting them in the skip!

Cost of Experience

Someone who has been doing something for a long time is normally a better bet than someone who is new to the job. That’s no disrespect to the young trainees coming up into the trade, but is simply a fact. Experience helps in so many ways, from knowing how to avoid a problem because you’ve seen it before to improved team management efficiency.

But, quite rightly, experienced construction engineers expect to be paid more than their junior counterparts – and that inevitably leads to greater cost to the client.

When it comes to paying for experience, it’s important to have balance. You don’t want a team made up solely of expensive experts any more than you want nothing more than green apprentices, but you do want to make sure the company has the experience that enables it to assemble a team with strong knowledgeable leadership with the additional backup to call on others should any unexpected problems occur.

Opting for an inexperienced construction company, or individuals, just because they are cheaper will lead to mistakes being made in the building work that can be disastrous.

Cost of Time

It takes time to undertake a construction project – and time is money.

It can be so tempting to listen to a contractor that tells you they can do it in half the time of the others, but ask yourself why that might be the case:

• Are they lying or exaggerating to get the job and will take the same time and charge you for it later?
• Are they planning on cutting corners to make it take less time?
• Are they inexperienced and just making a poor estimate?

Of course, there are a few reasons that are legitimate:

• They have a larger team to do the job.
• They have greater experience and know how to do things more efficiently.
• They are using high-quality materials that smooth the effort required.
• They have access to better machinery.

When you get your estimate for time, discuss these thoughts with the contractor and look to their reputation and history to see if it all adds up.

But don’t ever just jump the gun and pick the company that says it can do things faster – be wary!

Cost of Resources

A good contracting company has lots of resources that help them do an expert job – but these come at a cost which can make them more expensive than other options. For example:

• A dedicated administration team, with project managers and customer service experts – This will mean the job is handled better, with zero delays, clear transparency and positive interactions; contractors lacking these essential personnel may be difficult to deal with and have unwanted delays or additional management problems throughout the project.
• Top quality machinery and tools – Equipment is key, but it is also expensive to invest in and costly to run and maintain. Contractors with superior equipment may be a little more expensive in some ways, but will save money in others, with a more efficient undertaking. Not only that, but the end quality of the workmanship is likely to be higher when the tools are superior.
• Experienced senior personnel – It’s not just about the team that work on the job, but the people they can turn to for questions and support. Senior management with decades of experience will ensure your contractor company are able to complete your project with confidence and efficiency.

Working with a contractor with background resources might seem more expensive in the short term, but the smoothness of the project, combined with the assurance that it’s done in the best possible way, is more than worth the money.

2 – Not Properly Checking Credentials

We cannot emphasise this enough – do your research!!

It’s not as simple as saying ‘ah, they’ve got a website, so they’re established’ because a cheap website can be thrown together in an afternoon. Take the time to read their site, look at how much depth there is and check customer testimonials. Read both onsite comments and those on other platforms, such as social media, Trustpilot, and professional platforms like Checkatrade.

Another worthwhile undertaking is to ask to speak to past customers and even see completed projects if they’re local. It is not disrespectful to do this, and is part of your due diligence. A company that tries to get out of showing you their past work may be hiding something.

Also ask to see their professional credentials and industry memberships. At GI Sykes, for example, we are members of:

• CHAS
• Constructionline
• SafeContractor
• NHBC
• Interface

Obtaining industry membership usually requires the company to demonstrate a level of expertise and commitment to quality and customer service, so they’re a good indicator of professionalism and experience.

3 – Picking the Company Who Can Do the Work Soonest

A company that can fit you in right away isn’t busy. Why might that be?

Generally speaking, reputable companies have a list of projects booked in. If you discuss your timing issues with them and, after some back and forth, they find a way to fit you in, that’s a sign of good management and a competent administration team, but an immediate ‘we can do it next week’ is a red flag.

Instead, look to a company that has plenty of work on and is willing to give you a realistic and respectful schedule, taking as much care of their other customers as they are going to do for you.

Choose GI Sykes – The Mistake-Free Choice

There is an inevitable conclusion to this advice – choose GI Sykes. Though we don’t say it without good reason.

At GI Sykes, we understand the challenges faced during construction projects from decades of experience. We provide:

• A team of highly skilled and experienced professionals with a proven track record of success in a variety of commercial construction projects.
• A commitment to clear and consistent communication, keeping you informed every step of the way.
• A proactive approach to project management, ensuring your project stays on schedule and within budget.

Contact us today to find out how we can help you with your construction needs.