3 Tips for Hiring a Commercial Contractor

With a plethora of contractors available out there to hire for commercial work, it can be a challenge to choose the right one. Picking a quality commercial technician can make the difference between a job done right and an utter nightmare. But where do you start? You need to consider many factors, such as budget, scope of work, licenses, and resources available.

As a business owner and manager, it’s essential to know what to look out for so you can choose the right commercial contractor. It takes a lot more than choosing the first result when you search Google. You need to feel comfortable with their principles, practices, pricing, and past. 

If you are in the process of choosing a commercial contractor for your business, do your due diligence. In fact, there are at least three things that you should look out for when researching the various commercial contractors in your area. Make sure to look into and ask every contractor and commercial HVAC company about these things:

1. Certification, Insurance, & Licensing

Arguably, the most important factor is that anyone you hire to complete any commercial service needs to be certified, insured, and licensed. A valid certification and license are the baseline for any reputable company and prove that your commercial contractor is capable of doing the job correctly and safely. If you come across a contractor that does not have the proper certification, licensure, and insurance, you can disqualify them.

In Alabama, HVAC contractors must hold licenses from the Alabama Board of Heating, Air Conditioning, and Refrigeration Contractors.

Additionally, ask your commercial contractor to show proof of insurance coverage. Make sure the coverage is enough to cover any damage or injury that might occur.

In Alabama, HVAC contractors need a performance bond of at least $15,000 to protect consumers against damages made by contractors who break licensing laws.

If your contractor has all of the required licenses and coverage, you can rest assured that they will handle the job with professionalism and integrity. These documents mean that they have extensive knowledge and experience in their field, giving you a valuable resource for your commercial property project.

2. Positive History & Reviews

While researching your options, take extra time to read through the reviews. On most platforms, businesses can’t tamper with or remove reviews, and these can be a huge indicator of whether a commercial contractor is reliable or not.

Be sure to check both recent and older reviews to compare customers’ experiences. Is there a long history of satisfied customers? Do they take accountability for mistakes they’ve made?

Pro Tip: It’s not all about having a 5/5 star rating. If a company has 1,000 reviews with an average rating of 4.7 stars, compared to a company that has 12 reviews with a 5-star average rating, the first company, while a lower rating, may be more reliable.

Having such a high rating with a thousand reviews means that the contractor has made an overwhelming amount of positive impressions. They likely have a solid reputation that is substantiated by a large number of people.

While it’s good that a company has a “perfect” rating out of 12 reviews, that’s just a drop of water in the bucket. How much experience do they truly have? How many people haven’t left reviews despite a negative experience? 

It’s important to do thorough research when picking a commercial contractor. Additionally, it’s best to find reviews about your specific needs. Google allows you to filter in common phrases when reading reviews. So, if you need a commercial HVAC replacement, read reviews about that service so you can gauge how reliable a contractor truly is.

3. Clear-Cut, Up-Front Pricing

One factor that will qualify or disqualify a contractor is pricing. Sometimes, that just means not hiring a commercial contractor because their prices are too high. However, that doesn’t mean you should hire the cheapest contractor out there, either.

Be sure to look out for hidden fees, additional costs, and other ways you can be taken advantage of. When planning out your commercial project, break everything down into categories and steps. Before choosing a commercial HVAC contractor, you should ask about the following:

• Cost of Unit
• Labor Cost
• Cost of Parts and Materials
• Trip Charges
• Inspection and Diagnostic Fees
• Obtaining Permits
• Administrative Fees
• Equipment Rental Fees

If you can get an honest estimate about all of these factors, you should be in good shape to hire that commercial contractor.

Blake Brothers Put Customers First

Blake Brothers knows how difficult it can be to hire a reliable commercial HVAC contractor. You’ve invested a lot of time and money into your business. Tell us your specific needs, and we can work together to create a plan that suits your schedule and budget.

Contact us today to schedule a consultation for your commercial HVAC needs. We are located in Huntsville, Madison, Decatur, and Athens, Alabama.