The success of a construction project depends on the quality and integrity of its design and the craftsmanship and expertise of its builders. The process begins with extensive planning, which is followed by bidding and awarding contracts to qualified contractors. With so much riding on this decision, it pays to do your research before making any final decisions. Here are some tips for choosing the right commercial contractor.

1. Experience

The more experience the contractor has, the better chances you have of getting an expertly designed project built with quality materials and procedures. Many newer companies may not yet be established enough to give you this type of peace of mind. However, if their inexperience is coupled with low prices, it might be worth waiting until they've built up their portfolio and customer base.

2. Licenses and Insurance

Before choosing a contractor, be sure to check that they are properly licensed and insured for the job in question. If you discover that they lack such credentials when it is too late, you may find yourself liable for everything up until the point when you become aware of this fact. The best companies will be able to provide you with copies of their insurance and other credentials.

3. Affordability

While many contractors offer cost-saving construction materials, beware of any who promise extremely low costs—such savings are often made at the expense of quality. If they did not stay within your budget in the first place, it's unlikely they will do so during construction.

4. Design Capabilities

The contractor you choose should be able to provide you with a design that reflects your preferences and ideas as well as any pertinent legal requirements such as zoning laws or building codes. If the contractor in question has little or no experience with this, you may want to consider hiring a separate design professional for this step.

5. Flexibility and Responsiveness

The best contractors will be able to respond quickly and accurately to your needs and wishes, so be sure to get quotes from several different companies before choosing one. By checking references, you can also get an idea of how well they communicate with their clients. A contractor that is open to suggestions and willing to negotiate on certain issues may be more reliable than one who gives you no room for input.

6. References

Don't hesitate to ask the contractor if they can provide you with references from previous clients—be sure to check them out yourself. If they refuse, it could be a sign that they have something to hide. You want to know you're working with ethical contractors. For instance, consider working with one of the 56% of contractors that registered projects with the U.S. Green Building Council or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design over the last three years. This statistic comes from Bigrentz.com.

A large part of the construction project's success depends on the expertise and experience of its contractors. If you have done your research and selected a qualified contractor, they should be able to build exactly what you want in a timely manner while keeping both your budget and any legal requirements in mind.