A few things to consider before engaging an earthworks contractor
When you’re looking to hire an excavation contractor in Victoria, you have a lot of options. There are many companies out there these days offering a variety of services. Frankly, it takes a lot for a contractor to set themselves apart.
Choosing an excavation contractor is different in some ways than hiring other contractors. Excavation requires a range of specialized heavy equipment. Because even an average excavation project is a significant undertaking, there are a lot of ways that it can go sideways. Carefully choosing a contractor is especially important for earthworks projects.
There are some simple ways to mitigate your risk when taking on a large project. The most significant thing is to ask a lot of questions to ensure that you’re hiring the best excavation contractor in Victoria, or at least the best contractor for your specific project.
Consider This Before Hiring an Excavation or Earthworks Contractor
It’s not every day that you need to move hundreds or thousands of tons of soil and fill from one point to another; hence the hiring process is probably unfamiliar to you. A licensed, professional contractor should go out of their way to make the process as simple as possible for you. This means thoroughly explaining all aspects of the project from permitting and hazards to the equipment that will be coming on site to complete the work.
Below are a few other things to consider to ensure that you’re hiring the best excavation contractor in Victoria.
Level Of Experience
The complexity of excavation and earthworks projects means that you have to be sure that your contractor has the necessary experience, tools and staff to complete the job on time. Additionally, they need to be professional, with a proven track record of completing similar projects. Before they start rolling steel onto your site, it’s a good idea to ask around and understand the reputation of the contractor you’re working with. For larger jobs, it may make sense to ask for references from past clients.
Insurance
There are contractors around who do not carry proper insurance. This can leave you, the property owner, open to liability if something goes wrong. No matter what, your contractor should be able to demonstrate that they have appropriate insurance to cover the work being performed
Equipment
If you don’t have the right equipment, it will be hard to get the job done in a reasonable amount of time. When hiring a contractor, it’s a good idea to ask them what machines they own and what they’re planning to use on your job. Most excavation contractors will own at least an excavator…(makes sense, right?) but many, more established companies will have a variety of specialized equipment that can increase efficiency.
Related: The Most Common Machines Used In Excavation
Ask For Examples of Past Work
Not all contractors are the same in terms of ability, professionalism, available material and equipment. It is to your benefit to ask around to determine not only which is the best excavation company in Victoria, but also which company is best suited to your unique project and specific needs.
Build Trust
Treat hiring an excavation contractor like you would any other relationship. There has to be some mutual trust. Before whipping out your checkbook and signing on the dotted line, ensure that there is mutual trust between you and your contractor. The magnitude of the project you’re undertaking together can be quite long from first scoop of soil through to final grading. A lot can happen in between, and at those times, it’s important to have established trust between you.
Ready To Hire An Excavation Contractor in Victoria, BC?
Before you even consider initiating the groundwork for your project do your homework about your contractor and save yourself a lot of trouble down the line.
At Erdem Excavating, we pride ourselves on being one of the foremost contractors on Southern Vancouver Island in terms of experience, results, and client satisfaction. We have worked hard to build our stellar reputation and we certainly welcome our future clients asking around about us. We have been in the field of earthwork development in Victoria, BC for over 15 years. We believe we’ve built the best team around with regards to talent, experience and customer satisfaction.
With us, by your side, you can be sure that whatever the project, we will do it right the first time. Reach out to us whenever you need consultation or a quote for your next project