hanson ebook
TRANSCRIPT
Picking the right contractor can be difficult and often leads to a lot of worry, stress and uncertainty. People make mistakes when deciding and pay the price later. Books are written about it. TV shows are filmed about it. Lives are devastated because of it.
So we wanted to share some of our experiences and expertise with you, and tell you some of our secrets about what to look out for.
And as the average person can only remember 7 things, we're hoping you remember our 7 secrets to picking the right contractor so you have an excellent experience on your project.
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1. Are they health and safety
conscious?
Finding a contractor who's serious about health and
safety on any construction project is vital. You want it to
be a painless experience, literally!
Any safety-conscious contractor will carefully plan and
prepare the right documentation to ensure that not only
is their workforce going to be safe, but yours too. And a
yellow hat and a `wet floor` sign strategically placed in
your blind spot simply won't cut it.
Accidents do happen. In 2012/13, 148 workers were
fatally injured. So anyone serious about health and
safety will be happy to share their policies and best-
practice with both you and anyone else who may be on
site. So ask to see a Risk Assessments, Method
Statements and a Health and Safety Policy and make
sure you're confident that everybody on the site will be
safe before any work begins.
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2. Are they like-minded?
If the shoe doesn't fit, you'll get sore feet. And nobody
likes sore feet.
It's vital that your contractor shares your values, your
work ethics and your principles. You want people that
take care and pride in the work that they do, with
those old fashioned values of getting the job done
properly.
And that doesn't mean finding the cheapest quote.
That means finding the contractor that feels right, who
offers good overall value for money, who you'll feel
comfortable working with for the duration of the
project.
Running your business and preparing to hit the ground
running when the project is finished is essential to
your success, so you want to be working with someone
compatible.
And you can't hit the ground running with sore feet!
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3. Do they share accountability,
ownership and responsibility?
On every project, everybody has a responsibility.
Everybody is accountable for the work being
completed. Everybody takes ownership of every part of
the project.
The right contractor will be properly qualified and have
all the right documentation, insurances and policies in
place, so that everyone involved is 100% clear how
they contribute to the end product. No blame, no
excuses and no denial. Just solutions and shared
enthusiasm to solve any problems and complete the
job.
And that includes you!
The right contractor shouldn't take the ownership,
accountability and responsibility away from you. They
should share it with you so you can work together to
get the most fantastic, stress-free and smooth finish
to the work.
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4. Are they positive about
problems?
Problems always arise. It doesn't matter how well you
plan and prepare, something unexpected always
happens. It causes panic, stress and unnecessary
worry.
But the problem isn't the problem. It's how you deal
with it that really matters! It's NOT dealing with the
problem that's the problem.
But problems don't go away. So using a contractor that
takes a positive and honest approach to tackling
problems when they arise will take the panic, stress
and unnecessary worry out of your project. Find out
how they have dealt with previous problems, and how
they used their creativity and initiative to create,
present and deliver positive solutions to ensure every
project runs smoothly.
So ask your contractor, how do you deal with problems
WHEN they arise?
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5. Are they environmentally aware?
Captain Planet may have been a hero, but he didn't
take pollution down to zero! He certainly did his bit,
but ill-fitting Speedos and an enthusiastically
outstretched fist can only do so much.
We all need to do our bit to help create a greener
future and prevent unnecessary waste. Global
warming and the depletion of the natural resources on
our planets is real, and we all should be concerned
about it.
A modern and energy-efficient contractor makes the
most of every inch of their materials and sources
materials and energy from sustainable and renewable
sources where possible. So ask your contractor to see
their Environmental Action Plan to see how they
reduce their impact on the environment.
And greener doesn't always mean more expensive! A
more efficient process often means less waste and
lower costs, and those savings can be passed onto
you.
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6. Can you trust their bank balance?
You've heard the horror stories. Someone uses a
contractor who runs out of money mid-way through a
project. And the poor old soul who parted with their
hard-earned cash is left with no funds to get the job
finished, and a job half finished!
It's a scary reality. So ask your potential contractor to
fill out a pre-qualification questionnaire, or search for
reputable contractors using sites like Government-
owned Constructionline to find out if they're financially
viable and help weed out those cowboy contractors
you want to avoid.
In today's economic climate it's more important than
ever to do your research before you part with any
cash, so you can have peace of mind knowing that
your money has been well spent and your project will
be completed just as you expected.
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7. Do they lay it all out clearly?
Time and time again our clients tell us how work
they've had done in the past started at one price, then
ended at another! And when you're in that position, it's
difficult to get out of. You're backed into a corner,
because either the project comes to a standstill, or you
pay for the extras to finish the job.
Whilst problems do arise and not everything can be
fully anticipated, it's important you pick a contractor
with experience in handling similar projects, and an
honest approach to what needs doing.
So don't go for the lowest price. Go for honesty about
the costs, time and what the job really entails, even if it
looks more expensive than you thought. And ask for a
detailed schedule and specification covering all aspects
of the project, so you can be confident it will be
finished on time, on budget.
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Get in touch
So there you have it. Our 7 secrets to picking the right
contractor!
And yes, we do all these things.
But don't just take our word for it. We want you to be
prudent, detailed and thorough, so ask us anything
you like and we'll give you honest answers.
Phone
0114 234 0531
Address
Unit 39 Nutwood Estate, Limestone Cottage
Lane, Sheffield, S6 1NJ
412310HANSONTransforming Commercial Interiors