If you want to learn how to better deal with construction bids, we’ve got good news for you!
At Chad Fisher Construction, we understand that bidding on a commercial construction project is the first essential step to securing a successful project.
When you request a construction bid correctly, you’ll have a much better chance of receiving a proposal that matches your needs and ensures your project’s success.
With our years of experience in the construction industry, we’ve created the ultimate must-follow list of tips to ensure that project managers request the best construction bids around.
Our 5 Tips For Requesting A Construction Bid
When a project manager requests a bid and does a poor job at it, they’ll get inadequate bids from their contractors. Sometimes, those bids don’t meet the specifications, are undervalued, or overestimated.
So, it is crucial that project managers know what information to give in order to receive accurate bids from contractors. Then, you need to understand how to evaluate the bids so that you can choose the best construction company for the job.
Here are our five best tips to help you through the bidding process and ensure a successful project.
Be Specific
When requesting a construction bid, it’s essential to be as specific as possible. To do this, the design and architectural teams, and the owner need to work out every detail of the construction project.
They need to specify the materials and methods that they’d like the construction company to use on their project.
With fewer details in the bid documents, you leave more room for interpretation. Contractors may interpret specifications differently, leading to bids that don’t reflect the planned project.
It’ll also become nearly impossible to compare bids when they don’t reflect the end result you’re looking for.
Encourage Questions
When a bidder asks questions about your project, it shows determination and experience.
In other words, the contractor who asks questions is trying to create a well-rounded bid that covers the owner’s requirements. The more questions they ask, the more interested they are in your project and the more likely they are to understand your vision at the end of the day.
You should be concerned if your potential contractors don’t ask questions about your bid.
When your bidders don’t ask for more information, it may be a sign that they’re not reading through your documentation. It may also be an indication that they have little experience or no interest in working on your project.
Always Compare
No matter how specific you are, there’s still the chance that contractors will interpret your requirements in different ways.
For instance, one contractor may make provision for using a high-quality paint that lasts 7 years. At the same time, another contractor may opt for a less expensive, 3-year paint.
To truly determine the actual value of a bid, you’ll need to find specific items to compare.
When you’ve specified a particular type of material, for instance, a high-traffic brand-name carpet in the corridors, you can compare apples with apples.
By comparing these specific items, you’ll get a better sense of which bid is the best for your project.
Be Wary Of Low Prices
Low prices may not always be the best for your construction project.
Suppose you chose the contractor with the low-grade, 3-year paint in our previous example. You’ll end up saving money now, but in the foreseeable future, you’ll be spending more than what you’ve saved.
The 3-year paint may start peeling and cracking sooner than expected. As a result, you’ll have to budget for repainting, which could lead to all manner of headaches and unforeseen expenses.
Sometimes, low price bids indicate that a contractor might not fully understand your requirements or are willing to cut corners to lower operational costs.
Be Flexible
Many companies choose to go for a hard bid. A hard bid makes it difficult for contractors to address any on-site issues or variations that the design team didn’t anticipate.
It creates unrealistic expectations for project managers and contractors. These expectations can quickly lead to commercial construction contract issues.
Sometimes, it’s a better idea to go with a negotiated bid and the Design-Build method.
When you’ve got a trusted partner that’s willing to negotiate and work through on-site difficulties, your project will wrap up faster. It will also save a lot of time in the planning phase.
Key Takeaways
When you follow our tips, it’ll be easy to request construction bids correctly.
Your construction project will have a sound foundation by correctly issuing a bid and ensuring your bid documents are clear and specific.
If you don’t quite know how to make the bidding process seamless, contact us at Chad Fisher Construction.
With our years of experience, we know how to bid on the most daunting construction projects effortlessly. We’ll take care of your project in no time at all.