Compare the work each price includes.
Create a line for investigation, materials, installation, protection, permits, cleanup and closeout documents. Ask each provider to explain what is included in each category. An allowance or provisional item needs a clear explanation of how the final cost will be determined.
- Confirm quantities and the limits of the work area
- Identify allowances and exclusions
- Ask how additional work will be authorized and priced
Account for the building staying occupied.
Ask what the work means for the people using the property. Water and power interruptions, noise, access restrictions and temporary protection can affect the practical choice of provider. Record the assumptions each contractor has made about working hours and access.
- Proposed start, duration and dependencies
- Resident or tenant notice and access requirements
- Responsibility for protection, reinstatement and cleanup
Check the provider and the closeout.
Ask the provider to explain the qualifications relevant to the scope and to supply current insurance and other documents the owner requires. Review warranty terms and the records you will receive after completion. Contact references for comparable work when the project warrants it.
- Qualifications and coverage relevant to the actual work
- Warranty responsibility, duration and conditions
- Inspection records, commissioning and handover documents
Bring an explicit decision to the owner or board.
Use a short comparison with the same headings for each proposal. Record outstanding questions, the reasons behind the recommendation and who will authorize the work. Keep the accepted proposal and subsequent changes with the building records for the next manager or board.
- Resolve material scope differences before a decision
- Document the selected scope and approval
- Assign a contact for work coordination and completion review