The Importance of Reliable Vendors
Reliability is key in all relationships, not least of all when it comes to partnering with a business or hiring contractors to work in your building. Being able to depend on a company you do business with shouldn’t be a rarity or luxury. Consistency of the work provided and their ability to do what they say there are going to do is essential to the well-being of your business – not to mention helpful in keeping your stress level low.
How can you make sure the contractors you use are guaranteed to be as reliable as they say they are? There is only so much online review resources that can tell you about a certain contractor. These services can’t get as in-depth as a thorough background check, or as someone who has an existing relationship with them. Questions such as “Are they able routinely show up for me?” and “Can they replicate their results for my other facility?” can’t be answered from these online resources.
Most contracting companies will simply go with whoever has the best rating or lowest cost online. With a management company like City Wide Facility Solutions, we have a vast network of vetted contractors, so you can leave it to us to identify the right fit for the needs of your facility. We conduct background checks on the contractors we utilize and cease doing business with those who don’t meet our standards – so not only can you rely on City Wide to help manage your facility solutions, but you can rest assured we’ll find reputable people to do the work to your expectations.
Ensure They are Forthcoming With Relevant Information
Reliable contractors will never try to obscure information. They should be responsive and honest to questions about their track record and work ethic. You should ask them questions such as, “Can you provide some references? Are you able to give me an accurate timeline for the work needed? How do you prefer to communicate with your clients? Do you have any type of warranty for the work needed? Do you follow up after the job is completed?” Their inability to answer any of those questions should be a red flag. Otherwise, you can evaluate their answers to determine which contractor is the best fit for your needs.
Of course, you wouldn’t have to worry about any of that if you had help from a company that specializes in finding reliable contractors within your budget. A City Wide Facility Solutions Manager (FSM), who is equipped with the skills and expertise on solving problems in your facility, will know the right questions to ask potential independent contractors – and even better, they know the answers to look for. If responsiveness is a concern for you, know your FSM – as your one point of contact – will have you at the top of their priority list. Whatever requests or concerns you have, they will ensure it gets addressed in a timely manner.
They Should Be Proactive
Your contractor should be actively looking for any other problems that are present in your facility and should offer advice in accordance with the field they specialize in. For example, a contractor who specializes in lighting should offer advice as to why switching to an array of LED overhead lights would be an economical and more environmentally friendly decision. They should also point out any issues your facility has and may even offer to extend their services to fix said issue.
Similarly, that is one of the responsibilities of your FSM. They will look at your facility with a fresh pair of eyes and make recommendations on items to be addressed – before they become a bigger issue. If you are looking for a reliable solution for all your facility maintenance, read more about how an FSM works for you, or contact us today!
