Questions to Ask General Contractors During the Pre-Construction Phase

Asking the right questions during a potential project’s Pre-Construction phase can simplify the selection process by addressing the most critical points upfront.

Here’s our list of what you should be asking contractors like Interface:

1. How complete are the drawings? How much should we allot for contingency?
2. Do you see any issues with the constructability of the project with the current design?
3. Are there any areas in the design where we could reduce construction costs?
4. Does the estimate include coordination and minimal disruptions to current operations?
5. Do you understand our (owners) and end users’ expectations and goals for this project?
6. Do you understand the timeline and does your estimate reflect meeting that timeline?
7. What are some potential risks or grey areas of the project?
8. What type of contracting options are available?
9. Which option makes the most since for this project’s timeline and design?
10. Do you fully understand facility operations, limitations, working hours, and site laydown areas?

These questions can help guide your efforts and research in choosing the most suitable general contractor for a project. They also help owners highlight construction firms’ expertise in value engineering. True builders will ensure constructability in the safest and most efficient manner while managing cost and providing quality.

Self-performing general contractors like Interface are generally the most effective in controlling the critical path of projects, because they own a majority of the work versus outsourcing it.