Build a team of super subs!

So you want a fantastic team of subcontractors to help you create a great working environment, ensuring quality workmanship, punctuality, maintaining a schedule, and flexibility when faced with unexpected delays. That would be a dream come true. Is it possible?

It could be. Engaging great subcontractors results from a combination of skills that you can develop yourself. These skills are: 

1. Building relationships

The best teams of subcontractors I know like working with builders who treat them as colleagues, who see them as working together to achieve a common goal. They share a common culture and respond to circumstances in a similar way. They know that the builder has their back and is not out to fleece them of their last dollar. 

In the same way, they understand the need to keep to their word, deliver high-quality workmanship and stand behind their work. 

It’s a relationship that benefits the builder, the subcontractor and, ultimately, the client. 

When you think of your subbies as part of your team (your work family), you are more likely to treat them with the respect they deserve and they are more likely to respond in a like manner. 

This fosters a collaborative environment in which you all work together harmoniously. Furthermore, it encourages sharing of expertise and problem-solving that serves to broaden your knowledge and skillset. This has to be good! 

2. Pre-qualification

It’s way better to avoid a subcontractor who is likely to deliver poor workmanship than to pay the price for substandard work. This invariably leads to heated arguments, controversy, legal problems and, worst of all, dissatisfied customers. 

However, you can avoid such disappointment by carefully qualifying before selection.

Check on your prospective subcontractor’s reputation and experience. Ask for references and/or examples of their work and run some checks before engaging them. After all, you do this when employing new staff (over whom you have supervisory influence), so you ought to do the same when selecting subcontractors (over whom you have much less supervisory influence). 

It is also good to check (and list) their range of abilities and assess whether or not these match your requirements. They may be really good at some areas of their trade, but that doesn’t mean they will be good in all areas. For example, someone who is capable on a commercial build site may not have the skill necessary for an upmarket residential job. 

3. Onboarding and orientation

Once you have chosen a new subcontractor, do the following before you engage them.

• Introduce them to the members of your team with whom they will be working. 
• Orientate them with your company culture, safety policies and any site-specific rules you have in place. 
• Explain your quality management processes, payment systems and  how you expect any disputes should be handled. 

It is always better to cover off as many things as possible before you engage a subcontractor and before any potential issues arise. 

4. Clearing the paperwork

When asking subcontractors for quotations, always ensure that you provide an adequate outline of the scope of works you are requesting to avoid any misunderstanding. Include any quality standards that may be applicable, your projected timelines, and your payment terms. 

When engaging your subcontractor, do so with a clearly written contract or agreement. If necessary, ask your lawyer to assist you with creating a template. It really clears the air and ensures that both you and your subcontractor are on the same page. 

Don’t assume that, because they are good people, you will not run into any problems along the way. It happens! Things sometimes go wrong and mistakes occur. 

Should a disagreement arise, don’t let it become personal. Refer to your written instructions and specifications and ‘work the contract’! This is what it is for and when a well-written one is worth its weight in gold. 

5. Maintaining communication

Perhaps most important of all is to establish regular and open communication with your subcontractors to discuss progress, changes and any challenges they may be coming up against. Encourage them to raise concerns or to ask questions promptly, so that you can do whatever is needed to ensure a smooth workflow. 

Check in regularly on their performance and request that they submit a copy of the quality assurance check that you require on completion.  

Depending on the length of the job, it may be good to schedule a regular time to connect with your subcontractors, even if everything is going smoothly – just to stay in touch. It’s little things like these that build the foundations for good communication when things go wrong.  

Further, when a subcontractor has done a great job, make sure that you show your appreciation.  

Takeaway

By building strong relationships with a carefully selected and oriented crew of subcontractors, you are well on the way to surrounding yourself with a high-performing team and to achieving great customer outcomes. Who wouldn’t want that?  

 

Graeme Owen is a builders’ business coach at thesuccessfulbuilder.com. Since 2006, he has helped builders throughout New Zealand get off the tools, make decent money, and get more time in their lives. Grab a copy of his free book: The 15 Minute Sales Call Guaranteed To Increase Your Conversion Rate or join Trademates and connect with builders who are scaling too.