Building a dream home is one of the biggest achievements Filipinos can aim for in life. Be it simple or grand, it takes years to have your dream house constructed, and it requires thousands and millions to fulfill this long-time goal. In fact, the average standard home with one to two bedrooms already cost between Php25,700 and Php31,000 per square meter according to construction consultancy services provider Langdon & Seah Philippines Inc. With this amount of money shelled out for your dream home, it is only important that you hire a construction company in the Philippines that you can trust.

A good contractor oversees your house project from start to finish. It manages all phase of the construction—from securing building permits, coordinating with architects and designers, employing subcontractors, and preparing for inspections.

Choosing the right construction company is an important decision to ensure the completion of your dream house within the timeframe, according to budget, and with little trouble. To help you make an informed decision, here are some guidelines you should take before sealing that construction deal.

Check Licensing Stipulated by Law

A reliable construction company in the Philippines should possess a license mandated by the law. According to RA 4566 or the Contractors’ License Law, all foreign and local entities in the construction business should secure a license from the PCAB, the licensing arm of the Construction Industry Association of the Philippines (CIAP). Failure to present the said license should raise a red flag for homeowners.

The said law was enacted to ensure only qualified construction companies operate in the country. This is to ensure public safety, promote orderly growth of the contracting sector, and upgrading of construction capability for the benefit of the public and private sectors.

Review Safety Policies & Insurance

A contractor that values the safety of their employees is a company capable of giving value to its clients and the project it is handling. A safety policy should outline the methods the company is implementing to mitigate risks as well as determine who should be held responsible for specific actions.

It also pays to look for the bonding capacity of the company should something unfortunate happens while the project is on-going. This insurance should be clearly specified in the contract.

Ask About Completed Projects

Word of mouth can be a deciding factor for homeowners because who’s the best person to speak about their experience than previous clients. They more often give honest feedbacks than any other reference, so be sure to ask the company about a list of completed projects including contact details of its respective clients.

Dig every detail you can get including the time frame, quality of materials used, the contractor’s work relationship with architects, and other vital information that will help you in your decision making.

Be Honest About Your Budget

Don’t settle for a construction company that tends to underbid to accommodate your budget. The last thing you want is to risk you and your family’s life with substandard building materials. This tendency raises another red flag that might cause your project to fail.

When choosing the right contractor, express honesty about your budget and your expectations. A good construction company will also be honest about the project—pricing, timeframe and all. These inclusions should be clearly mentioned in the contract.

A good contractor may be hard to find when tons of other firms are bidding for coveted deals. However, taking all these guidelines into consideration should help you make an informed decision, and eventually, lead you to the right construction company in the Philippines that will help realize your dream.

Invest now.