In order for our house
to be nice and functional, we need to employ reliable and solid specialists for
its construction. A trustworthy
contractor is a real treasure today. Finding
it is not easy, which does not mean that it is not feasible. Where to find and how to find a good
construction team?
We should start looking
for the executive team much earlier in order not to make the choice under time
pressure and not to "take the first better". With some contractors you have to
arrange, even a few months before the planned start of construction.Conversations
are best carried out in winter or autumn if the construction is to start in the
spring. However, do not sign a
contract for construction works with a selected contractor before obtaining a
building permit. Why? It may happen that the procedure is
prolonged and the contractor may withdraw or demand compensation for profits
lost during downtime.
Where to look for a
contractor?
The best source of
information is friends or neighbors who have recently completed their
construction or carried out renovations. After
all, they know best if the team they hire is worth recommending. It also often happens that
manufacturers or sellers of building materials recommend contractors
specializing in specific areas - such a contractor certainly knows his job and
has a good reputation among his clients. Of
course, we can look for a performer who announces himself in a newspaper or on
the internet, but remember that even advertising in a reputable letter does not
necessarily mean that the company is reliable.
What to ask the
contractor?
We should prepare for
the conversation with the contractor, and it is best carried out in the
presence of a trusted construction specialist - preferably the future inspector
of investor supervision. He will
soon realize whether we are dealing with a solid company or tricksters, asking
questions about technical solutions to be used in the building. We should definitely check whether the
contractor we choose has the right construction equipment. A professional contractor has at least
basic equipment, while an amateur will lend it, and this will irritate and
prolong construction. Our
inquisitiveness can be annoying for the contractor, but it will reduce the risk
associated with its choice. Before
making the final decision, it is worth to look at other houses completed by him
and ask the residents for their opinion. An
honest trader will give the addresses of previous construction because he has
nothing to hide and would like to show off his work.
formalities
It is worth noting
whether the company is operating legally, whether the company's data functions
on the Internet and whether the business owner is willing to sign the contract. Do not cooperate with companies that
want to work in black and avoid formalizing it. Maybe their salary is lower, but we
have no guarantee that they will finish their work, and in the event of
irregularities on the construction site, we have no way to assert our rights.
Before signing the
contract, let's check what is the legal status of the construction company. It could be:
· A natural person or a civil company
conducting business activity on the basis of an entry in the business activity
register,
· Commercial company (with limited
liability or joint stock).
Construction of
single-family houses on customer plots is undertaken by the first. At our request, the contractor should
provide a certificate of entry in the business activity register. The fact that the commercial company
operates legally is shown in the commercial register kept by the district court
competent for the place of the registered office of the company. This register contains, inter alia data on the company's share capital,
scope of activity and persons authorized to represent the company.Therefore, we
must request an extract from the commercial register from such a contractor.
How to determine the
remuneration?
The investor has to make
a decision, possibly negotiate with the contractor, whether the contract price
(the price of all works) will be calculated on a flat rate or determined on the
basis of a cost estimate. In the
case of a flat rate, it should be noted that the contractor can not demand an
increase in remuneration even when the size or cost of the work could not be
predicted at the conclusion of the contract. When
determining the remuneration, it is necessary to set deadlines and rules for
its payment. The point is, for
example, that further pay installments will be implemented at the end of each
month. However, it is better to
determine the payment after completing a specific stage or item of work,
because the investor has the ability to control the quality and progress of
work on a regular basis.
