Subcontractor Application and References
Hiring subs is no different than hiring a person for any "regular" job. You should get an application from them just as you would for a receptionist, accountant, or nanny. The subs are being hired on to do a job, so have them fill out a subcontractor application. A job is a job, and thus applications for the job are fitting. A subcontractor application will include much of the same necessary information any other application would require, such as contact info, experience, etc. A good contractor application includes space for the sub's name, Federal ID #/SSN, what they do, license #, insurance company, type of insurance they have, contact information including home phone, cell phone, email, and a place for 4 references, one of which should be the last person they worked for, including the phone number to reach them, and any other pertinent information they want to include.
This application is important because it can weed out not so great subs from ones with something worth looking into right off the bat, saving you precious time. The most important part of the application is the reference section. Basically when it comes to finding good subs you need to look at references. No one earns a good reputation if they aren't honest, don't have good work, and have disgruntled customers. Usually it is just the opposite. The subs with the best reputations have satisfied customers and good work to show, and in turn they have good references to show for it.
When you talk to subs, and have them fill out subcontractor applications, insist on getting at least 3 references from the last 6 to 12 months, one of which really should be from the last job they worked on. This reference will give you the best idea of how they are going to be. If you require references you will get them...but some may be fake. Don't hesitate to contact the references. In fact, you should contact every reference they give you, and if possible, even inspect the work and find out what the past customer paid for the job. Your reference should include name, job location, phone number, email, type of job, beginning and end date, and approximate job cost.
When you talk to the references there are important questions you will want answers to, so be sure to ask them. One thing to be sure to inquire about when speaking to the references is how accessible the subs were. Or in other words, were they easy to get a hold of? Did they return calls in a timely manner? These things are more important than you realize, especially if you have a schedule you are going to be trying to stick to.
When you talk to a sub make sure they have a cell phone number, but also get a home phone number where they can be reached. You want to ask the references about other aspects of their work as well, the following is a list of items to inquire about in order to find the best subs for your job:
• Was the work completed on schedule? Where there any avoidable or unavoidable delays?
• Where charges for work fair? Was the final cost consistent with the cost estimation given?
• Was the quality of work satisfactory?
• Did the person show respect for you as an employer? Your family? Your home and property?
• Would you use this same subcontractor again if you needed to hire a sub in their specialty?
• Can you see the home, and inspect the work of the sub yourself?
So, get answers to these questions, and any explanations you may need. Having a subcontractor application and references will help you get the best subs out there.
Like this article? Then Digg It
or
add it to your Del.icio.us Bookmarks!
Tags: subcontractors building preparation application references
