Choosing a block contractor: five things to consider

Ash Irving-Wilkinson, Block Contracts Manager for A S Ramsay, looks at five key considerations when choosing a Block Contractor for your next project.

The right partnership can make sure your property maintains or increases in value, with disruption to residents kept to a minimum. If you’re aiming for a smooth-running project from start to finish, selecting the right contractor is key. But how can Block Managers make sure they have the very best contractors tendering for their projects? Here are five things to look for from your Block Contractor.

1. Great communication from start to finish

Communication is the crucial to a successful Block Managers’ construction or maintenance project. Your Block Contractor should be as transparent and communicative as possible with you as a client, but also with residents too. Why? Because this minimises inconvenience and disruption to their living space and keeps them on side through the works.

2. Look for outstanding project management processes

Ask if your Block Contractor has a bespoke project management process that helps to carefully monitor performance so you can see exactly what is happening within your projects.  Here at A S Ramsay we have The Red Scheme – it’s a proprietary project management process which brings transparency and trust to our clients. Our own Quality Assurance Surveyor makes weekly inspections solely to monitor and record quality and adherence to specification.  These reports give our clients and their agents a real insight into what is happening on site, and maintain an ‘open book’ policy which helps us to work alongside our clients to achieve the best result.

 

 

 

3. Check out client testimonials

Look out for recommendations and client testimonials, which say so much about how a Block Contractor performs and the relationships they build with their clients. Any Block Contractor worth their salt should also have an impressive portfolio of properties they have helped to enhance or maintain. Even better if they have won awards on the back of their work, delighting clients and industry judges alike.

4. The best people!

It is so important that the people your Block Contractor assigns to your project, from the back office to those working on site, are communicative, approachable, fresh and dynamic. They should also be looking to provide the best team of professionals for your Major Works project. Up-to-date training really helps when it comes to the quality of staff so it is definitely worth asking potential contractors what training they offer. Does your Block Contractor regularly hold CPD training with its operatives and industry leading suppliers to ensure that we are up to date with the latest technology and continue to be industry leaders in this field? Look at how A S Ramsay makes sure its team is among the very best here.

5. Certification and Accreditation

It goes without saying that third party certification and accreditation is an absolute must have for Block Contractors. Subjecting themselves and their operatives to regular inspections across electrical, fire, health and safety and other important services they provide brings peace of mind and an assurance of quality to their clients.  For instance, are your Major Works partners NICEIC Approved Contractors which signifies the very best in electrical contracting standards? Are they approved by BM TRADA to work on Fire Door and Fire Separation projects?  Third party certification brings quality to a job and peace of mind for Block Managers – and it is the reason A S Ramsay is accredited by the leading certification bodies.

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