Have you heard the saying “A builder is only as good as their trades”? If you haven’t, we are here to unpack why this saying is true and let you in on some tips and tricks on choosing the right builder.
A professional builder is not necessarily someone who’s on the tools. It is someone who is able to keep track of their entire business and make sure everything is running smoothly to maintain a high standard of quality.
As a client, you would want your project to go as smoothly as possible. To do this, the relationships between the builder and their subcontractors matter. Subcontractors are the ones doing all the behind the scenes work so if there is bad blood going on between the builder and the subcontractors, the client will inherit that. Which means it could turn into chaos on site with delays and inferior standards of work and turn your dream project into a nightmare!
According to the 2022 APB SORCI (Association Of Professional Builders, State Of Residential Construction Industry) report, 26.9% of project delays were due to subcontractor delays. Which makes you wonder what type of relationships were occurring on those projects. It just goes to show how important relationships are!
Relationships Are Key For Success
You want your builder to have trusted relationships with their subcontractors because it will end up benefiting you as a client. You are engaging in a builder with all those years of experience along with all those relationships they have built with different trades. Essentially, you are not just engaging with one person but with a whole network of professional trades.
We’re not going to sugarcoat it and tell the clients that building is an easy process because we’ve got years of experience. Building is difficult and there are always problems that occur, major and minor. Having experience will help manage the issues but it will not make them disappear. The subcontractors are the ones who can help the builder solve those issues. However, if the builder is not paying the subcontractors on time, ripping them off or treating them like commodities, there is no loyalty and it is you, the client, who will end up getting the short end of the stick.
A professional builder will pay their trades on time and ensure they are always looked after. Positive relationships truly are the backbone to a successful builder.
Trust And Communication
As we have mentioned before, a great relationship between the builder and his subcontractors is key, since subcontractors are the people doing all the grunt work. If the relationship between them is poor, problems may occur. The trades may stop showing up on time or stop doing their job correctly. If the builder has bad communication or bad blood with them, the trades may feel jaded. Their hearts won’t be in it and they may develop a loss of passion for your project which can lead to them just performing their work at subpar level and moving on. The project may end up taking longer than expected and could end poorly. Ultimately, the client will end up suffering! Which is something you definitely do not want.
These problems can be mitigated by choosing a professional builder that has a good relationship with their subcontractors. Remember, subcontractors can work for many builders so if your builder is their favourite, who are they going to look after? They are going to prioritise the builder who pays on time, who looks after them and who respects them. By finding out the relationship between your builder and their subcontractors, you can trust that the project will go as smoothly as possible and know that the job will be delivered to a high standard.
But How Do You Find Out? Do Your Due Diligence
So how do you find out what the relationship between your builder and their subcontractors is like?
That is a great question. Many people think asking your builder about their subcontractors is pointless. It’s not. This is actually a great way to find out more about your builder and their relationship. Don’t be scared to ask questions. A professional builder will have no issue revealing the information to you if they have positive relationships with their subcontractors. By contacting the subcontractors and asking them questions, you can ensure that the builder you are working with is the right one for you and your project.
TIP 1: QUESTION YOUR BUILDER ABOUT THEIR RELATIONSHIP WITH THEIR SUBCONTRACTORS.
- Who are your subcontractors?
- Do your trades like working with you?
- Do you use the same trades all the time?
TIP 2: CONTACT THE SUBCONTRACTORS AND ASK THEM QUESTIONS ABOUT THE BUILDER.
- What is it like to work with X builder?
- How long have you been working with X builder?
- How does X builder handle when things don’t go to plan?
You should feel confident in your decision when it comes to choosing a builder. Asking these questions will help you determine whether the builder you’re engaging with is the right fit for you.
You not only want to “click” with your builder, but also feel that you’re in the safe hands of an experienced professional. We have plenty of information available that can help you find the right builder, but finding the right builder is just one of the 6 Essential Things You Must Do For A Successful Home Renovation. Download our FREE guide to find out the other five!
