When and why to work with new contractors
When and why to work with new contractors
For as long as we can remember, the construction industry has been hugely fragmented. That’s just the way it works. A client will hire an architectural team or designer. Then engineers get involved. Building services consultants follow and then structural engineers before, finally, the contractors arrive to do the work. Even then the contractors might not complete all the work themselves.
They sub-contract various tasks to other companies who specialise in certain aspects of the work. Fragmentation like this, while common practice in construction, may not be best practice. It poses many problems to those working on the same project.
Getting in with the clique
If you work in construction, you wouldn’t be surprised to hear that in every project there is always an air of favouritism. If we are being candid, choosing a contractor isn’t always about the quality of their work. It is largely down to reputation. Large construction companies know who their friends are. They know who they want to pick for the job, making construction a hard industry to break into for smaller, new contractors, regardless of what they bring to the table.
But, clients want fast, innovative projects completed efficiently and to deadlines. We know how hard it is to make such a fantasy come true in the construction industry. But, did you ever consider that it is because of the people we keep hiring for our teams again and again?
When to work with new contractors
If you notice that the dream team on your construction project is more of a nightmare, it is time for the adage of ‘out with the old and in with the new’. If your team is disjointed and you are finding it hard to get tasks completed on time, you need to find out what the problems are and how to solve them, pronto. It may be that you need to re-think your project team.
Just because you have worked with one sub-contractor before doesn’t mean they are always the best for the job. The popularity and size of a sub-contracting company may negatively impact the work you produce for a number of reasons.
Sub-optimal sub-contractors
Popular sub-contractors are more confident they will get hired due to their reputation. Therefore, striving to improve the quality of the services they provide isn’t always their biggest priority. They don’t need to rely on this to get themselves work. On the other hand, smaller sub-contractors usually produce high-quality work because they have to prove themselves against other companies to receive jobs.
Larger sub-contractors may have poor communication within their organisation. There are more staff to keep track of and more projects to manage. Smaller contractors, with smaller teams, work intimately within their organisation and with their clients. They spend more quality time with each one. This means there is often more value in hiring a smaller subcontractor who can put 110% into each project they are hired to complete.
Large sub-contractors might be more expensive due to their reputation and high demand. However, their quality of work, due to the aforementioned issues, might not justify their price. You can use a less popular sub-contractor for a smaller fee and receive more detailed, valuable work.
It is for these reasons that quantity surveyors and construction companies should consider widening their pool of sub-contractors. Sticking to the same ones might be comfortable, but you may find you’re left with lower quality work, and low client satisfaction. Don’t be afraid to make the change and embrace new contractors.
At Inscape, we work with you through every stage of the construction process so we can understand your needs entirely. We work closely with you to ensure the efficient running of your project and our high-quality, bespoke manufacturing service ensures you only get the best for your project. Get in touch with us today on 0845 230 8565.