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INDUSTRY ISSUES


All About Partnerships: Working with General Contractors


IF YOU’RE LOOKING TO GET INVOLVED IN LARGER, COMMERCIAL construction projects, most likely you’ll need to submit your bids to a general contractor company. Even some small and medium projects can involve working for a general contractor.


Working for a general contractor means an increased amount of docu- mentation, a different pay schedule than you’re used to and substantial liability if you don’t go about it the right way. Below is the advice from several landscape companies accustomed to working with general contractors and how to make the most out of it.


SELECTING THE RIGHT GENERAL CON- TRACTOR The most critical aspect of working with general contractors (GC) is forming a relationship with them. “You really want a relationship with a


GC where they understand what your strengths are and how you can plug into that relationship with them,” says Chris Strempek, owner of Complete Land- sculpture, based in Dallas, Texas. Caleb Simms, director of construction for Outerland, based in Mashpee, Mas- sachusetts, says they look for general contractors who are looking for a partner, not just the lowest price. Simms says you can often tell which general contractors


prefer to have partnerships if you always see the same subcontractors working at all their jobs. Keith Behringer, business develop- ment manager for John Mini Distinctive Landscapes, based in Congers, New York, says they have worked with suc- cessfully with many general contractors they’ve partnered with for decades. Similarly, general contractors are looking for partnerships with landscape companies as well. “We pride ourselves on partnering with responsive competent contractors that provide quality products and installations,” says Raylena Browning, director of pre- construction for Manhattan Construction Company, based in Tulsa, Oklahoma. “We encourage our trade partners to prequal- ify with us prior to bidding. Trade partners can request a prequalification package on our website.” When it comes to winning bids, it often comes back to the relationship that you have formed with the general contractor. “Have someone that has some invest- ment in you beyond just the number you


send them,” Simms says. “Whenever I am submitting a bid to a general contractor, I make sure I’ve met the person receiving bid face to face. I try and make sure they will at least give me a call back about that bid.”


Strempek says they study the plans and make sure they understand them so they can give an accurate number in the bid. If they see information that is not covered, they let the GC know and this informs the general contractor that they spent the time studying the plans. “We always try to do what we can to vet the plans and tell them what we think will or won’t work,” Strempek says. “They may not listen to us, but we do that. Some people like to find holes and bid a job low to get the job and beat them to death with change orders. GCs don’t like that, so we try to help and partner with them.”


By Jill Odom


Photos: Manhattan Construction Company


National Association of Landscape Professionals 33


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