Questions When Hiring A Field Maintenance Professional

Starting a field maintenance project? Selecting the right professionals can significantly impact your success. It's all about asking the right questions from the get-go. Let's explore the essential inquiries you should consider:

Communication Expectations: How can we expect updates and how often?

• Effective communication is vital for any successful project. Establishing a clear communication plan and frequency of updates ensures transparency between you and the contractor. Whether it's daily progress reports or weekly check-ins, understanding how you will communicate establishes transparency and trust.

Scope of Services: What services will you be completing, and which ones will be subcontracted?

• Understanding the breakdown of tasks is essential for managing expectations and project oversight. While the primary contractor may excel in certain areas, subcontracting certain tasks is common for various reasons. By clarifying who will be responsible for each aspect of the project, you gain insight into the project's execution and can anticipate who will be on-site.

Schedule Notification: How far in advance will we know the schedule?

• Flexibility is key in project management, but having a general timeline provides a framework for planning and coordination. Knowing when to expect updates on the schedule allows for proactive adjustments and minimizes disruptions. Weather conditions, unexpected challenges, or resource constraints may be reasons for schedule changes.  Making regular updates is important for keeping all stakeholders informed.

Past Project Experience: What similar projects have you completed, and what issues did you encounter?

• Learning from past experiences provides insights into a contractor's abilities and problem-solving skills. Asking about previous projects, particularly those similar in scope offers reassurance of their ability to navigate challenges effectively. Projects never complete the lifecycle without minor issues so ensuring the contractor knows how to handle them effectively can help produce better results. Knowing about possible issues helps us plan ahead to prevent problems, making our projects run more smoothly.

Additional Services: Are there additional services not included in the scope of work that we would need to pay for?

• Understanding exactly what tasks are included in the initial agreement is crucial for planning your budget and managing the project effectively. Yet, it's important to remember that unexpected things can come up as the project progresses. Knowing upfront what's covered in the original agreement and what might cost extra helps you make smarter financial decisions along the way.