Choosing an asphalt vendor can be very stressful. There are lots of factors to weigh in making a decision with which company that can best meet your surfacing needs. There are wide ranges and extremes of the quality of services that they can perform for you. Whether you need a cement driveway or an asphalt surface project, there are many great asphalt and driveway companies in Boise, Nampa, the Treasure Valley, Idaho and Oregon. Some specialize in certain sizes of jobs and some may specialize in speedy job completion.
Quality of the completed product and the materials used are crucial to a great paved parking or driveway surface. You can learn a lot about an asphalt and cement company just by knowing about their ability to deliver a fair and accurate bid and also how they communicate with you during the job.
Here are four common mistakes that asphalt vendors and contractors can make during the bid process and in the initial communication. Think of them as red flags!
1. Communication to Customers on Project Timeline
You would expect that a friendly call from the salesperson who sold the asphalt job for the project manager would touch base with the client at the beginning of the project to communicate how long it will take and some major milestones to expect. This happens less often than you realize. Some asphalt companies can lose sight of what the timeline needs to be on the customer side. For example you could need a completed asphalt or cement surface as the first step in a commercial parking lot or grounds before any of the other structures are to be completed on a plot or property. The client needs an upfront and accurate timeline that they can base future projects and next steps around.
If an asphalt company is being evasive on the time it takes to complete something or the project manager / salesperson cannot commit to checking in with you and communicating the progress of sticking to the timeline, it is a bad sign that they may not have people working on behalf of the client and they could be having deeper operational issues.
2. Getting the Job Completed in a Timely Manner
Some asphalt companies cannot complete the jobs in the timeline that they agreed upon with the end client. Having a project start late would affect the end client for so many reasons. Many of those already mentioned above. Not starting a job on time and/or not completing the job in a timely manner is not only unfortunate, but it is not respectful to the time and urgency of the client’s overall project that requires the asphalt or concrete. Commercial projects already go through a lengthy process of permitting, zones and codes. The last thing that a client wants to worry about is that their asphalt vendor is holding up so many other processes.
When speaking with a prospective asphalt vendor, ask them for references and contacts of the last three similar sized jobs that resemble the size and scope of yours. Their answer will be revealing. Some may not choose to provide this information because they know that they may not be able to truly deliver on your timeline. If they do provide some contact information for previous customers, give them a call and ask them specific questions on: ● What timeline did they promise?
- How many days late or early than the estimated timeline did they complete the job?
- Did they communicate with you during the process if they were meeting milestones of the timeline and also if there were any unexpected things that are preventing its completion?
If an asphalt or servicing company cannot commit to your timeline, that is not a very good sign that they’ll be an advocate for your needs in your desired project.
BONUS: The answer may also not be the fastest asphalt contractor either. It is important to balance this with the quality of the job performed too. Look at the lots in-person if possible that were provided as references.
3. Works With the Customer to Solve/Offer Solutions to Any Issues That May Arise.
We mentioned above that references are key to getting some good indications on the timeline and communication of an asphalt company. Something else important to uncover when checking references is how the company was able to rectify problems: whether it was one they created or one that was unexpected. Problems do happen. When dealing with asphalt material that’s sensitive to the elements or a client needing to make a change abruptly, mistakes can happen. The company can show its true colors on how they respond to these difficult and unexpected events.
Ask any references about any issues they faced due to any problems, but most importantly ask them how the asphalt company dealt with the issue. If it was an issue created by the asphalt company, you can tell the level of pride an asphalt company has in its finished product if they are willing to apologize. Just the act of saying sorry and taking ownership can go a long way. If you hear that they were proactive in coming up with solutions before they were forced to make concessions, the company definitely has the end user in mind and would be considered a good and ethical partner in your surfacing needs.
Another thing to uncover is how they dealt with the problem. If the owner and foreman is out on the job yelling at their crew and demeaning them to fix something, it might show the “true colors” of a company who is more profit driven and less so about quality.
Another thing that goes a long way is if they were able to reassure the customer and be a calm presence even if the customer is angry. Being calm under pressure is key. A vendor who can take the higher road and cooler approach to any stressful situation will make the situation in the long run better for all.
4. Details/Scope of Project Listed on the Estimate
In reviewing bids from asphalt companies, too much detail is never a bad thing. Make sure that the scope is fully listed and accurately reflected in the agreed upon square footage or acreage. It is like a hospital bill for services. You think that you paid for the doctor’s time, but before you know it, you are receiving more bills for tests, labs and other services. Nothing frustrates a customer more than surprises that come up when it should have been accurately addressed up front. If the bid looks incomplete, there’s a good chance it truly is. Push back on the company bidding for your project to provide all the documentation that is important to you and remind them that you have a budgeted amount and do not expect any surprises.
If you are experiencing difficulties with a current asphalt vendor or are getting confused by the
bidding process, contact us. We would be happy to review estimates and bid on your asphalt
and paving needs.
