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10 Valuable Benefits of Hiring a Local Commercial Builder

Published by
Rami Tawasha

Hiring a reputed national or international commercial contractor for your project might seem tempting. However, they won’t be knowledgeable about the functioning of the local industry.

Local commercial builders, on the other hand, have a deep understanding of building codes, environmental conditions, and industry professionals in your area. They will guide you with the latest trends and help make informed decisions based on their experience with similar projects. Apart from this, general contractors near your area bring their local expertise that help your project complete smoothly, avoiding delays and cost overruns.

This blog will explore 10 solid reasons to consider hiring a local commercial builder who provides tailored solutions for your unique needs.

Benefits of Hiring Local Commercial Builders

Partnering with local contractors offers valuable benefits that will ensure your commercial project turns out to be of remarkable quality. Here are ten major benefits of hiring local commercial builders for your next building project.

1. Knowledgeable in Local Building Codes and Regulations

A local commercial contractor is familiar with the building codes and regulations applicable in your area, preventing costly and time-consuming violations. For example, the San Francisco Building Code requires that all buildings be designed to withstand seismic activities as the city is located in an earthquake-prone area. Apart from this, there are fire safety codes, electrical codes, parking lot compliance, zoning approvals, etc.

While national construction companies may understand federal and workplace regulations, they possibly won’t know the requirements of your municipality’s building codes. Local commercial builders have the experience and expertise to navigate the permitting process with local regulatory bodies. You can rest assured that your construction project will be granted all necessary permits on time.

2. Has Established Relationships with Local Professionals

 

Since local contractors have been operating a construction business in their area for years or decades, they have established relationships with local suppliers and subcontractors. Utilizing their professional connections, a local commercial builder may procure high-quality materials at discount rates, often within a shorter timeline. Meaning that clients end up saving both time and money.

A local commercial builder will hire subcontractors like electricians, plumbers, masons, landscapers, roofers, painters, etc. from the community talent pool. They subcontract work to tradesmen based on their experience and qualifications as opposed to outsider contractors that hire the first available subcontractor, even if they have a 1-star rating. This approach leads to the delivery of quality workmanship.

Amidst high construction demand and a shortage of skilled labor, professionals choose to work for known commercial contractors.

3. Ensures Time and Cost-Saving

Hiring a local commercial general contractor reduces the cost of traveling to your location and delays caused by transportation issues. Clients can save on overhead expenses including office space and worker accommodation, insurance, distant travels for project meetings, and specialized tools or equipment. This makes the local commercial builder affordable to hire and increases your bottom line.

Likewise, local commercial construction companies source materials and supplies from vendors near your area, hence, the project benefits from timely deliveries without any risk of delays. Using their local knowledge, they can expedite the permit process as well. On top of that, working with a design-build contractor will streamline the various construction processes, saving you time, communication gaps, and additional finances.

In this way, local commercial builders serve the benefit of finishing your construction project on schedule and within budget.

4. Clients can Personally Interact with a Local Commercial Builder

Hiring local construction contractors means they are readily available for face-to-face meetings with clients, site visits, and regular updates. Personal interactions with stakeholders allow for clearer discussion and faster issue resolution which develop a strong collaboration between both parties. It’s also reassuring for clients to access the contractor’s main office to discuss questions about the construction project.

This is highly advantageous to clients as they get a direct line of communication during emergencies. For example, if insulation materials are not delivered on time, you have to call the supervisor or head of the company, delaying the work. Whereas, a local commercial contractor’s proximity to the building site will enable immediate response to the problem and better management of resources.

5. Understands Local Conditions

How will weather conditions affect your construction plan? How to make the right type of foundation for structures near me? Are subcontractors easily available this season? A local commercial builder is experienced in working in your particular geographic area and, thus, is acquainted with its environmental challenges and market trends for commercial real estate.

General contractors in San Francisco consider microclimates, hilly terrain, coastal influence, seismic events, and soil conditions when designing and building structures for native clients. Furthermore, local commercial builders understand what building materials and techniques work in the local climate and what doesn’t.

When you hire an outsider construction company, they may employ cookie-cutter techniques which won’t be appropriate for all climates.

6. Swiftly Addresses Project Challenges

Every construction project will face unexpected problems. Owing to their longstanding profession in your area, local commercial builders have a strong understanding of the geographical, legal, financial, and political risks that might affect a commercial construction project. Hence, they take a more proactive approach to risk management and mitigation.

In situations where labor shortages disrupt the construction progress, a commercial builder in your area will promptly resolve the issue and ensure a steady workforce, benefitting from their established links with local labor unions. However, a non-local contractor will need help to grasp the labor dynamics, causing project delays.

Because of reduced travel times, local contractors can also provide a faster response time. Face-to-face meetings with local contractors help resolve issues quickly and efficiently, avoiding the hassle of miscommunication.

7. Delivers Quality Workmanship Fueled by Greater Accountability

Unlike national construction companies, the image of a local construction business depends on the satisfaction of their clients. Customer service is a top priority for them. As they have a vested interest in community growth, a local commercial general contractor will deliver quality workmanship with the highest industry standards.

Owners have a greater sense of accountability when they can easily contact or visit contractor offices if posed by unexpected challenges. Large commercial construction companies have multiple salespeople to sell their offerings. If they don’t meet your expectations, it gets troublesome to follow up later with your concerns.

8. Hire a Local Commercial Builder to Support Your Community

When you partner with a locally-owned commercial construction company, have faith that your business dollars will get reinvested back in the community. You foster the local economy’s growth by providing employment opportunities to local suppliers, subcontractors, construction workers, and project managers. Local contractors, too, are more invested in your project because they strive for economic development in the area.

According to analysts, when you spend $100 on a local business, $68 of that money remains in your community that further supports other local businesses. Working with a national commercial builder retains only $43 of your hard-earned money. Also, outsourcing services from a nationwide contractor means you are benefiting another region’s economy which is unfair to your locality.

9. Local Reputation Aids the Contractor’s Hiring Process

Another important reason to hire a commercial general contractor near you is that they have local references as proof of credibility. The recommendations from your family, friends, or colleagues who have worked with the local builder will provide you with honest reviews. Online reviews of larger construction businesses available on Google or third-party websites can sometimes be misleading.

Not just that, you can physically visit some of their previous construction projects and ask clients about their working experience. Researching and evaluating a local contractor’s past projects first-hand tells whether clients had satisfactory results or not. Ultimately, word-of-mouth local references are key in hiring a general contractor with a strong customer base in your area.

10. Local Commercial Builders are more Trustworthy

A local commercial builder has a reputation to uphold in your community. For this reason, they are less likely to cut corners or take shortcuts and are more trustworthy than remote contractors.

They are familiar with the area better than any outsider company, whether legal issues, permit delays, material shortages, or other factors, they are prepared with remedial strategies.

Nevertheless, small construction businesses are more dedicated to their projects than remote contractors, ensuring the job is done with excellence from start to finish.

How to Find Commercial Contractors Near Me?

If you are searching for a qualified design-build contractor who can undertake as well as execute your construction project successfully, finding a commercial builder near you is crucial. Almost 80% of bad hires are due to poor hiring decisions.

So, how to ensure that you are hiring the right professional for your commercial construction? Here are some useful tips for finding and conducting due diligence on local builders.

  • Search “commercial contractors near me” or “commercial general contractors near me” on Google, Bing, LinkedIn, Yelp, and other online directories.
  • Ensure that the company has a valid business address, contractor’s license, insurance, and bonds.
  • Try to receive at least three of four bids from different local commercial contractors near you.
  • Ask the local commercial for client references. Contact these past clients to get a detailed review of how they handled project challenges.
  • Explore their portfolio of similar commercial projects. For instance, if you are planning to build a retail store, tour around any grocery store, shopping mall, or other retail property they have constructed.
  • Check if the local commercial builder has enough numbers of qualified team members capable of thinking out-of-the-box ideas.
  • Before signing any contractual agreements, examine the terms with the help of an attorney, if possible. Make sure it mentions clauses related to dispute resolution.

Best construction companies always demonstrate their ability to accomplish the construction project within your budget and on time. They keep sustainability in mind, designing and building commercial structures using eco-friendly materials.

Case Study

Local Expertise in Resolving Project Challenges

MedCare Group nurtures a noble venture of constructing a state-of-the-art medical office in the San Francisco Bay Area. The project aims to establish a modern healthcare facility equipped with advanced technology, fulfilling the diverse medical demands of the bustling area.

Challenges:

MedCare Group chose the services of a local commercial general contractor, known for its expertise in building healthcare facilities.

The local contractor faced the challenge of strictly adhering to and getting approvals for a wide range of healthcare regulations in under 3 months while ensuring patient safety. Global supply chains were disrupted because of the pandemic, and hence, there was a risk of delay in installation of specialized medical equipment.

Solutions:

  • With proper communication with their trusted local suppliers, the local contractor ensured a steady flow of specialized equipment despite supply chain barriers.
  • Timely delivery of medical equipment like X-ray machines, CT scanners, MRI machines, ECG or EKG machines, diagnostic testing equipment, surgical tables and instruments was made possible.
  • The commercial contractor worked closely with local regulatory bodies to identify and comply with all requirements related to office licensing, HIPAA and ADA standards, as well as other healthcare design-build rules.
  • As the medical office space was planned in a populated locality, the construction team only worked within permissible hours discussed with neighboring operations. They efficiently used available space for material storage, preventing roadblocks.

Results:

The hired local contractor and their team built a cutting-edge medical office within the planned schedule in San Francisco. It highlights the importance of local expertise in resolving unique construction challenges in a particular area. The project owners were satisfied with the team’s performance and were able to open their ambitious medical facility successfully.

Summing Up

Given the fact that commercial construction projects involve high amounts of investment and risks, it’s better to pass it over to trustworthy hands. A local commercial builder is someone familiar with local regulations and has professional connections with subcontractors, and quality vendors. They can provide quick responses to unexpected situations, communicate face-to-face with clients, and support the local economy. Hence, they are a more reliable choice than non-local contractors.

Partner with Us

Constructive Solutions, Inc. is a commercial general contractor with over 20 years of industry experience. We are dedicated to providing our clients with outstanding construction and project management services within your requirements.

If you are looking for quality commercial construction services in San Francisco, San Jose, or San Mateo, please contact us today. We will discuss your project thoroughly and answer any questions you have.

FAQs

What other benefits can a local commercial builder offer?

Local construction contractors can work with different building types, construction techniques, and layouts, making them an ideal choice if you want high design flexibility.

Are local contractors cheaper or more expensive to hire than non-locals?

National construction companies, by taking advantage of their bulk buying power, negotiate better prices on materials, equipment, and labor, and hence, appear less expensive than local contractors. But, cheaper isn’t always the most reliable. Local companies have unique knowledge about your area which remote ones don’t have.

How to assess a general contractor’s local expertise and knowledge?

Ask the general contractor what building permits and zoning regulations your project needs to follow. Enquire about trending designs in your area.

Relevant Resources:

Constructive Solutions, Inc. is a full-service commercial construction company serving San Francisco and Bay Area.

Whatever your vision, we have the resources, experience, and insight to make your concept a reality, and a space where your business can flourish.

Call Us Now for Estimate

Rami Tawasha

A highly motivated and experienced civil engineer with more than 20 years in the construction industry, Rami Tawasha serves as a senior project manager at Constructive Solutions, Inc., a commercial general contractor based in San Mateo, San Jose and San Francisco. Proficient in a broad range of services from design-build and seismic retrofit to tenant improvement and renovation for corporate offices, medical facilities, industrial, hospitality centers, and retail spaces across the San Francisco Bay Area.

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Published by
Rami Tawasha

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