Identifying Suitable Projects
When you are getting started in the commercial industry, one of the initial challenges can be identifying which projects are appropriate to pursue. It’s easy to overextend yourself with your first project. Try not to bite off more than you can chew until you have a better understanding of how these larger commercial projects are run. While we are all in favor of shooting for the stars, here are some tips to avoid disaster and ensure that you get to the stars at a safe and appropriate pace.
Job Distance:
One of the easiest ways to overextend yourself is to give your team a long commute. Stretching your supply lines into an unknown area, and making your working days even longer, will add stress to the job before you even strip the topsoil.
Try to keep your first couple of jobs in the neighborhood. This distance will obviously vary depending on where you live, but try to keep it under 30 minutes from your shop. A quick search on Google Maps is all you need.
Schedule:
When do they plan on this project being completed? Make sure it works with your schedule, and you aren’t double-booking yourself. Also, make sure to check how much time they are giving you to complete your scope. Some projects will have tight time constraints that will increase the pressure on your team. Consider how long it will take to get the necessary materials. Be sure you are totally comfortable with the schedule.
Job Acreage:
This requires little explanation. Start small. You can quickly measure a jobsite and save anything over an acre for another day. Anything under an acre could be in play and requires further inspection.
Grading Complexity:
Take a look at the existing grade lines. The fewer grade lines, the better. If there are more than 10’ of relief across a site of less than an acre, then the grading work will probably be extensive. The project will likely require large amounts of import or export, which can throw the project’s budget by tens of thousands of dollars.
Keep the early projects to some flat ones. If you do not have the proper estimation techniques in place, or don’t have sources for dirt, it’s best to play it safe until you gain some experience with it.
Utility Complexity:
If you are starting your own excavation company, we can assume you are comfortable with the standard utilities: water, storm, and sewer. On commercial sites, you need to keep an eye out for specialty equipment such as AquaSwirls or grease traps that you will need to learn how to install. So a quick scan of the utilities for these high-price items will help you decide if a project is for you.
Furthermore, checking the depth of the utilities is also a good metric. If the sanitary is running at 14’ deep and you’ve never worked with those conditions, it will be best to hold off on that for a few projects.
You will most likely have to compromise on one or more of these factors when choosing your commercial jobs, and eventually you will have to risk it for the biscuit. The key is to just minimize the ways in which you overextend yourself and your team. To borrow a phrase from skiing: “Only ski as fast as you are willing to crash.”
