The hiring of an erector or contractor is a critical part of any building project if you are unable to do it yourself. The consumer must do a good deal of research in order to make the right decision and a qualified erector or contractor has to meet your expectations. A quote is necessary before any work begins and, as rates can vary, quotes from several different firms are always recommended.

Locating the Right Erector or Contractor

Experience is important in order to find the right person to assemble your garage. Here are some helpful ideas that might assist with making that process smoother.

1.) Call the manufacturer - They generally have a list of erectors or contractors who have successfully built their garages in your area.

2.) Referrals from other people - A neighbor or acquaintance of yours may know of someone that they used previously to do some work. This is important if you are unsure about the quality of work that any given firm can provide.

3.) Referrals from professionals- Local building supply stores in your area usually have a list of recommended contractors that they work with.

4.) The newspaper - Your local paper has a classified section where contractors will advertise. After contacting the contractor, make sure you follow-up with a reference check.

Questions to ask an Erector or Contractor

Ok, so now you have contacted someone for your project-- what questions need to be asked? 
 
>Feed back is important - ask for a list of references and talk to the references.

>Get a list of completed projects and go view some if you can.

>Find out how long the erector or contractor has been in business.

>How many jobs have they done that are similar to yours?

>If you contact the erector or contractor, did they get right back to you?

>Do you have a comfortable relationship with your prospective builder?

Questions to ask References

If references are provided by your prospective builder, here are some questions to ask.

> What was your opinion of the job the builder did?
 
> Did the builder honor the contract and schedule agreed upon?

> Were there any difficulties with the project and how were they addressed?

> Once the work began was the builder easy to contact?

> Would you hire the same builder again?

Hiring the Right Erector or Contractor

Talk to numerous candidates. The lowest price is not always the best price. The level of service you will receive is more important.

When talking about your project see how much input the erector or contractor is volunteering. This usually comes out of their experiences with other projects.

Specifications should be identical for any and all bids.

Fluctuations in price from one bid to the other should be discussed in detail with the erector or contractor candidate.

Any bid that is substantially lower than others should be questioned. Make sure all work that is to be completed is included.

The erector or contractor should have a valid license to do the job.

One key to this is to have insurance coverage. There should be a General Liability Insurance Policy in force and also Workers Compensation Insurance in force, at a minimum.

Everything agreed upon should be in writing. Contracts should include payment schedules and final costs.

A file should be kept on all documentation for the project.

Building Contract Essentials

At a minimum, a building contract should include these following important points:

Work to be performed - All work that is to be done should be predetermined precisely.

Timeline - There should be a definitive schedule and time when the project will begin, the number of working hours included and a goal target date for completion.

Insurance - The insurance carrier and documents should be specific.

Warranty - A provision for workmanship warranties should be provided and a length of the coverage.

Compensation - Down payments are the norm when dealing with erectors or contractors. Down payments can range from 33%-50%. Most companies then expect the balance upon completion of the project. However, inspect that all work on your garage project has been completed satisfactorily before making a final payment.

Additional items - Heavy equipment on the grounds, damage, waste removal, and workday hours are also items that need to be addressed upfront.

 

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