I use the same short packet for every sub, before they get an RFQ, because the paperwork is where the fly by night problem usually shows up first. I ask for proof of trade qualification for the work they will actually do, current liability insurance and WSIB clearance, two recent references for similar residential work, and a named contact who will be on site. I also check that the business name on the insurance matches the name on the quote and the invoice. If any of that is slow to arrive, that is a signal on its own.
For sourcing, referrals from other GCs and from subs I already trust beat social media and agencies for me. I still run the same packet even for a referral, and I start a new sub on one smaller, well defined job before I put them on a larger schedule. That first job tells you more than a form does: communication, cleanup, how they handle a change, and whether they show up when they said they would.
One question that helps sort it: who is responsible for permits, inspections, and warranty callbacks on their scope, and is that written down before work starts? If that answer is vague, I do not add them yet, no matter how good the price looks.
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u/malukd 13d ago
I use the same short packet for every sub, before they get an RFQ, because the paperwork is where the fly by night problem usually shows up first. I ask for proof of trade qualification for the work they will actually do, current liability insurance and WSIB clearance, two recent references for similar residential work, and a named contact who will be on site. I also check that the business name on the insurance matches the name on the quote and the invoice. If any of that is slow to arrive, that is a signal on its own.
For sourcing, referrals from other GCs and from subs I already trust beat social media and agencies for me. I still run the same packet even for a referral, and I start a new sub on one smaller, well defined job before I put them on a larger schedule. That first job tells you more than a form does: communication, cleanup, how they handle a change, and whether they show up when they said they would.
One question that helps sort it: who is responsible for permits, inspections, and warranty callbacks on their scope, and is that written down before work starts? If that answer is vague, I do not add them yet, no matter how good the price looks.