What should you look for in an excavation company?

Picking an excavation company can be daunting. Whether you are a property owner, project manager or general contractor, there are certain key qualities that will make all the difference in the customer experience and project outcomes.

We asked our Executive Partner and Excavation Manager, Hammy Mitchell, for some advice on what customer should look for when selecting which excavation company for their project.

Hammy Mitchell has worked in excavation for more than 30 years, is a Certified Septic Installer, and has experience in everything from road work, foundations, corrections, and more. He was worked in cities, remote ranches and in challenging locations throughout the region.

The most important things to look for in your future excavator?

• Quality

• Communication

• Follow through on promises

How can customers tell if a contractor will meet those expectations?

Good communication! If a contractor is fast to call back and helps provide knowledgeable feedback right away, it is a good sign that they will be focused on the work needed.

"Communication - people are shocked by the responsiveness and the finished product," said Mitchell. "It is a standard right? I think any company should set a standard and I think communication and quality is big. Our quality is at the top but so is our communication."

What can customers look for in an excavation contractor (even if they aren't experts themselves)?

1. Check out the social media and past history/references when you are selecting an excavation company to get a better idea of what work they have done.

2. Keep an eye on the condition the equipment when you meet with your excavation contractor.

3. Observe how the employees/crew members behave and/or present themselves. Are the staff professional, clean and friendly?

4. Again, Communication! If a contractor doesn't answer your calls, it can be a red flag.

Be sure to understand how the excavation company does their billing. For example, KLM Contracting does a lot of our excavation work on a "time and materials" basis, charging only for the work that is completed.

"We do a lot of T&M because customers get the reassurance that they are not being taken advantage of," Mitchell explained. The entire process is talked through with customers who are planning projects.

KLM Contracting can be a one stop shop for new landowners looking to build. Our projects include everything from the timber assessment to the finished driveway.

"We get a lot of projects where we build the road and then we do the timber thinning/harvesting and then we clean it up and make sure it is buttoned up in the end," Mitchell explained. "We work with a partner company to do grants, boundary marking and reseeding.. It helps us have the full, start to finish product."

Having one company contract the land management and excavation can eliminate headaches for landowners.

“We do it all," said Mitchell.

Need more advice on where to start with your land, residence or septic project? Contact us!