When hiring anyone to complete a job for you, aspects such as cost, reliability and experience are important factors to take into account. But oftentimes the decision should be based off of much more than just those three criteria—especially when hiring a civil engineer in Idaho.
Civil engineering is a field in which it takes years of education and on-the-job experience to become a qualified and licensed professional. As a result, it’s a job that may leave others scratching their heads at what exactly the work entails and what qualifications are especially important for the job. To make the process a bit easier, here are a few questions to ask when hiring a civil engineer in Idaho.
What response time should I expect for emails and phone calls?
A key factor in any successful business relationship is an agreement on acceptable response times. The engineer should establish early on how quickly you might expect to receive a response to an email or phone message. Response times may vary based on the project or even the phase, so clarifying your expectations can alleviate a significant source of potential frustration. If you require a quick response, you should make this clear to the engineering consultant before hiring them.
But remember to also be understanding. Sometimes, especially during the design phase, response times may be slower, as the engineer needs time to truly understand your questions and analyze the potential alternatives. On the other hand, time often literally equates to money during the construction phase, so an immediate response may be crucial.
How frequently should I expect to receive communication?
As a client, you have the right to expect the engineer to communicate with you during the various project phases. This is why 30, 60 and 90 percent meetings are great ways to keep an open line of communication during the design period of the project. During these meetings, the professional engineer will be able to brief you on any updates concerning budgets, timeline and project updates. That frequency is still dependent on the scope and intensity of the project. The frequency of these meetings should be established as the project gets underway.
Are quality control checks part of the project deliverable?
A documented and well-established quality assurance or quality control process is crucial to ensuring that minimal change orders or mistakes are made. You will want to know the following:
- Does the firm involve a principal engineer throughout the entire project?
- Who will conduct a final review of the project prior to its delivery?
- What is the experience of the engineer conducting the quality assurance or quality control check?
A quality assurance or quality control check process will help identify any potential problems and minimize any unprecedented costs or delays to the construction schedule.
With more than 25 years of industry experience, Mason & Stanfield, Inc. has long been providing quality civil engineering services to the people of Idaho. Our firm offers premier surveying and civil engineering services to fit your budget. For more information on hiring a qualified civil engineer in Idaho, contact our office today.