When selecting a civil engineer for a project, most businesses will look for the most cost-effective proposal. This is understandable; we all work under a budget and try to cut corners where we can.
However, the cheapest option isn’t always best, and can often end up costing a lot more down the road.
By asking the right questions and hiring the firm most suited for your business and your project, you can establish a great working relationship with professionals that you trust to get the job done right.
So what questions should you ask when hiring a civil engineer? Here are a few:
Do you anticipate any unique challenges with this project?
By identifying challenges ahead of time, a good engineer can come up with solutions before problems arise. Look for a firm that acknowledges the challenges.
Do you perform Quality Control?
Doing regular QC checks will help to identify problems in real time and can ensure against costly change orders.
What can you do to keep construction costs down?
When your engineer provides thorough plans and drawings, it leaves less up to interpretation for other contractors. Vague plans will lead to higher-priced bids from contractors, but having quantities and costs estimated early on will result in more realistic bids.
What are your response times for emails and phone calls?
In order to form a positive working relationship, it’s best for both sides to set clear expectations for what the turnaround time will be for a phone call or email.
How often will we communicate?
Project updates will vary depending on the scope. Regardless, we’ll be in contact with you on a regular basis to ensure that you’re updated on the progress of your project.
What can you do that other engineers can’t?
Identify those characteristics that set your engineer apart from others. Consider us for your next project; we would love to work with you. Contact us today.
