Building contractors in Kenya play an important role in the development of the Kenyan economy.
Whether you are putting up a multi-million commercial office block or several low cost residential units in Nairobi, a local contractor will be your best bet to getting best results at the most affordable prices.
There is a general belief that Kenyan contractors are inefficient. This is, however, not true – although there is quite a big number of cowboy contractors out there who are known for their below-standard quality of service.
You should exercise caution when hiring a contractor to ensure that you do not get inferior workmanship in a bid to cut on building costs.
Here are some tips to help you choose a building contractor.
1.) Begin by making a list of contractors that seem to be perfect for your project. This can be done by consulting local construction magazines and websites or by perusing the classifieds sections of daily newspapers. Friends and relatives may also help you to prepare the list.
2.) Research the firms that you wish to invite to bid for your project. Perform a Google search with the name of the company to check if there are any customer reviews about the contractor.
3.) Arrange a face to face meeting with the company’s directors. Ask them as many questions as you can to see if they can manage your project. Find out how experienced they are and how satisfied are their customers and more importantly how financially secure they are.
It is also recommended that you ask them for a list of referrals. Call some of the listed customers and ask them how their project went. Ask them about the contractor’s quality of service and schedules.
Professional building contractors in Kenya depend on referrals to grow their business and they cannot get them if their quality of work is substandard.
4.) If the contractor passes the test, get him to the project site. Explain to him what the project is about and make sure he clearly understands the scope of the project. Work with him to create a budget for the project. Discuss with him the project’s time frame and let him commit to your deadline.
5.) Hoping every thing is well at this point, sign a contract with the contractor and start the work immediately.
