What to Look for in a Building Material Supplier

by / ⠀Blog / November 18, 2022
building supplier 1

The construction industry is expected to consistently establish exceptional quality in every single one of its projects, especially with building material. Otherwise, clients will never invest in the same contractor for future projects. Because if a construction project’s integrity is compromised, not only will it hurt the client’s reputation, but it will also endanger the pedestrians who happen to be within the vicinity.

Although expert contractors are valuable for any construction project, their expertise will be useless if not utilized properly. Because aside from being good with their hands, a project won’t be successful without its foundation: high-quality materials. Therefore, clients who want to maintain good standing with their builders must start by holding them in high regard to provide them with long-lasting, first-rate building materials.

Since they’re in high demand, countless building material suppliers exist within the industry. However, you still need to do your due diligence, as only some suppliers supply what you’re looking for. So instead of making an order on the first supplier you see, check whether or not the supplier has the high-quality materials suitable to the project’s requirements.

  • Vast Inventory

Changing from one supplier after another every time you have a different project is undoubtedly too troublesome. While having suppliers specializing in a specific material will produce promising results, clients who constantly have all sorts of projects waiting on their list would find this tedious. Because on top of keeping up with their partners and different tasks, going through the list of suppliers to find a specific supplier is laborious.

To avoid keeping track of too many names, ensure that the supplier you choose is a ‘one-stop shop.’ This means they should have all the materials you can see your future projects will use. Moreover, not only will it be efficient to have only a single supplier in your contacts list. But it also saves time and money when placing an order since everything you need can be picked up in a single trip.

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Generally, the essential materials your supplier must have are natural rock, concrete, and wood building supplies. Natural rock building supplies include a variety of minerals used as fillers or for aesthetic purposes. Hence the need for quality. As for concrete, non-experts would think any bag of concrete is good enough. However, professional contractors know that different kinds of concrete can affect the site; the same applies to wood.

building supplier 2 inventory

  • Excellent Customer Service

Aside from an extensive list of building materials, a supplier’s greatest selling point is their top-notch customer service. After all, customer service is the only way for a client to reach out to a supplier. Without them, the supplier’s high-quality materials might remain unseen.

Whether the order is placed in person or through an online platform, having customer service professionals dedicated to ensuring the client has an easy time ordering is crucial.  In return, the client will hold the supplier in high regard when purchasing steel buildings and other materials from an experienced manufacturer known for their start-to-finish customer service. Because of this, it’s easy to envision a long-term relationship with a supplier due to their excellent customer service.

  • Commendable Reputation

An impressive inventory and excellent customer service are typically not enough for many clients, especially ones who have overlooked their fair share of construction projects throughout their careers. Because even though a brand-new supplier holds promise by having these qualities, it still doesn’t have a stable foothold in the construction industry the same way reputable suppliers do. After all, it’s not easy for suppliers to find their footing.

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Building a reputation in the industry takes an incredibly long time for it to form in a way the supplier wants, considering it took them countless trials and errors to reach that point. Ultimately, their reputation relies heavily on the customer base they’ve amassed. Since their customers experienced their service first-hand, most clients view them as reliable proof of what the supplier can provide.

However, there’s nothing wrong with giving the ‘new fish’ in the industry a try. After all, you might regret missing the window of opportunity when you completely brush off new suppliers.  Sans reputation, as long as they fit the description of an excellent building materials supplier, you should be open to signing a contract with them—at least for smaller construction projects.

  • Authentic Certification

One of the things clients must ask their suppliers is where they source their building materials from. This ensures transparency in their transactions from the manufacturer to the supplier. Considering the project must remain free from any lawsuits in disguise, seeing the authentication—and verifying it as legitimate—would assuage any worries. Also always consider looking into any third-party audits the supplier potentially partners with to ensure everyone involved in the transaction remains crystal clear.

  • Expert Advice

Input from contractors and architects is considered a golden nugget of information in every construction project. Without them, builders might encounter multiple design flaws and possible hazards before the project is brought to life. The same principle applies to choosing an exceptional supplier.

Although it falls on the supplier to provide materials, they need curiosity about the kind of project built. Considering they’re an expert in building materials, they can recommend something better than what you have listed. Experts in the field should help you choose and even enlighten you about the materials you’re buying. This includes from installation to other alternatives.

  • Keen Delivery Process

One of the reasons you’re looking for the right supplier is to save precious time and resources. After all, there’s always a deadline waiting for you at the end of a project. For clients to meet the deadline, they need to design a timeline that ensures to take into account every variable.

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Delivering the building materials is a valuable component of any construction project. Thus, this makes it extremely delicate in the timeline. Because if the materials are late, project delays will disturb the project. Although it sounds like an excellent solution, delivering the materials earlier than expected potentially causes them to deteriorate on-site. This eventually renders them useless. Ensure that the supplier has a consistent track record of delivering on the agreed-upon date.

Takeaway

Having talented and experienced contractors on a project isn’t enough to guarantee the product will succeed. Because aside from the presence of experts, using high-quality materials is the backbone of the construction industry. Thus, building materials suppliers play an essential role in each project. However, finding the right one is challenging, considering how many supplies there are. But in the end, contractors have a better shot at bringing the project to life if high-quality materials are provided.

About The Author

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Ramon David has been a natural stone building material specialist for six years. He advises contractors on which material is best for their projects. He runs a YouTube channel in his free time to educate more people about natural stone building.

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