Signing a fabrication contract without asking the right questions is like ordering food at a restaurant you’ve never been to without looking at the menu. If you’re really lucky, you might end up with something similar to what you wanted, but it’s more likely you’ll get nothing of the kind. And then you’ll be left wondering if it was your fault for being too trusting, the server’s fault for messing up the order, or the kitchen’s fault for not doing their job right.
This sort of thing happens more often than we care to admit. The client rushes into an agreement, and then the job starts, and we’re in the middle of it before complications arise – delays, costs, quality, failing to meet expectations. But all of it could have been saved had a few simple questions been asked up front.
Here’s what those questions should be:
What are the lead times? If they promise a delivery date, what’s the plan if that slips?
Who, specifically, will be doing the work? Big companies sometimes win contracts only to hand off the work elsewhere. You need to know who will be touching your project.
How do you handle changes? Whether it’s a change in designs or materials substituted because of availability, there needs to be a clear process for dealing with these, including clear pricing for when any of it happens.
Can you see examples of similar work? Not the best project they did, but something truly comparable in scale and complexity to yours. For a Fabrication Company Gloucester, visit mber.uk/steel-services/fabrication-gloucester
What’s the quality checking process? Anything less than a detailed answer that leaves you feeling like you’ve learned something should be considered a red flag and a reason to say no outright.
A good fabricator will not flinch, and they will probably even appreciate that you asked. That is a very good sign.
