Tips to Attract and Retain Great Subcontractors
Subcontractors are critical to the success of construction projects, providing specialized expertise in a wide range of trades, from concrete and drywall to site prep and utilities; from carpentry and flooring to masonry and steel work. “Our members are effectively funding the construction project,” says Richard Bright, CEO of the American Subcontractors Association (ASA). “In many cases, they are buying the supplies and providing the labor, but not getting paid until the job is completed. Additionally, they often must wait for payment.”
With a shortage of labor and a robust construction market, subcontractors can afford to be more selective about who they work with. If you are struggling to secure bids from qualified subcontractors, there could be several root causes.
According to Bright, the subcontractor may simply not have the capacity to take on the work. In other cases, a previous bad experience with billing or hearing about a bad experience from a colleague may deter them. Personnel issues could be another issue. After bidding multiple times without securing a job, subcontractors will often move on to another general contractor (GC) bids they have a better chance of winning.