Stick with local businesses. These companies typically already have a good reputation in your area. You’ll likely run into someone who has used that local company or maybe you’ve even heard of them before you started searching. It’s also important to have someone nearby in case you have questions or concerns about your project. Hiring a local contractor also means there’s less of a chance they will pick up and leave, scamming you out of big sums of money.

Ask friends and family for recommendations. Ask people you know if they’ve ever done a similar project to yours or hired a contractor in the specialty you’re looking for. Word of mouth is one of the best ways to find reputable companies. Leverage people you know and ask questions about their experience. Did the contractor address your concerns in a timely manner? Were their employees generous and hard working? How much did the project cost? Was the work completed on time and on budget?

Conduct interviews and meet fact-to-face. If you want to be thorough, there’s nothing wrong with setting up a phone or in-person meeting. Making sure they can answer all your questions is important. And as superficial as it may seem, sometimes appearance can make or break a deal. A messy truck may be a sign of disorganization. A sloppy look could be a sign of sloppy work. However, don’t put all your eggs in that basket. It’s only one facet of your search.

Have a clear vision for your project. If you’re short on details, you’ll likely get a large variety of answers from the contractors you’re considering, which will make your decision even more difficult. If you know exactly what you want, you can line up each company’s answers and estimates to make a more informed assessment and you can break down the cost of every single line item side by side.

Get everything in writing. Estimated schedule, projected cost, labor rates, materials used, etc. should all be outlined in writing. That way you have proof of everything the contractor has promised to you. Additionally, if any changes are made throughout the duration of the project that conflict with the original quote, make sure they are outlined in writing and approved as well.

Confirm your point of contact and who is doing the work. Who do you call when you have a question or something goes wrong? Don’t get the run around from the contractor. There should be one person who can answer all your questions thoroughly. You also want to confirm that that contractor will indeed be doing the work themselves. If not, make sure they disclose all subcontractors to you.

Price should only be one factor of many. It’s not wise to focus solely on the cost of your project. Choosing the lowest bidder may mean the company doesn’t use quality materials or employ qualified workers. If you’re happy with the answers and contract the low bidder gives you, then hire them. But you may be better off going middle of the road or choosing the priciest contractor, as they are more likely to be superior to their competition.

Ask the contractor for references. If you can’t find someone who has experience with the contractor, ask them directly if you can talk to previous customers. Just like a human resources director investigates a potential employees’ experience, see if the contractor can provide you with positive stories from past customers.

Check for reviews online. This tip can be a bit tricky, as anyone and everyone can leave a review online these days and it may not always be an accurate reflection of the company. However, it doesn’t hurt to do a little bit of research before reaching out to a contractor.

Don’t be turned off by busy companies. The fact that a contractor has a busy schedule is probably a good sign. They’re in high demand so customers must be big fans of theirs. If you’re not in a hurry to complete your project, be patient and follow their busy schedule.

Do not pay up front. A good contractor likely won’t ask for payment before work begins. A deposit may be required for good faith, but you should receive a bill at the end of the project for the remaining balance. A big red flag is when a company asks for full payment in advance.

Don’t limit yourself. Whether you want to interview two plumbs or ten plumbers, that’s your preference. Keep searching until you’ve found a contractor that makes you comfortable. A good company will respect your due diligence and patiently wait for your business.

Ask for the company’s credentials. If you want to be extremely careful, you can always ask the contractor for credentials, such as their business license, insurance policy, warranty information, and permits. A good company shouldn’t hesitate to provide proof that they’re an established, legitimate business.

Check their safety record. One of the most important factors in hiring a contractor is making sure the contractor is safe. Employees should wear proper protective equipment, unsafe areas should be cordoned off, and there should be proper procedures and policies in place in case there is an accident. The last thing you want is an injury that can throw off the entire plan or cost you’ve formulated for the project. And every contractor should be able to send their employees home in the same condition they came to work.

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On October 28, at the Delaware Contractors Association‘s Annual Dinner, one of Nickle Electrical’s project was recognized for outstanding craftsmanship. The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation project was given an Excellence in Construction award for work performed on the project. Congratulations to Project Manager Brandon Cale, Foreman Kevin Woodland, and all field personnel who helped make this project a success.

The original Kalmar Nyckel was built in Amsterdam in 1625. She was purchased in 1629 to serve as a warship for the Swedish navy and was eventually sold to a private merchant in 1651. She is well-known for being the flagship for the 1638 expedition that founded the colony of New Sweden, which established the first permanent European settlement in present-day Wilmington, Delaware. Stories about her sinking aren’t conclusive, but it’s been told that the Kalmar Nyckel sank in the North Sea fighting for the Dutch in a war against the English in 1652. The current Kalmar Nyckel was constructed in Wilmington and launched on the Christina River in 1997.

The Kalmar Nyckel Foundation is a non-profit educational organization that offers a broad array of sea- and land-based learning and recreational experiences. The ship serves as a floating classroom for the foundation’s award-winning educational programs, which promote Delaware’s maritime and colonial history.

This new building was a design-build project for Nickle Electrical, a method where design and construction phases overlap to reduce the risk to the owner and reduce delivery time. Blake & Vaughan Engineering, Inc. gave Nickle approval and stamps for design. Architecture firm Bernardon also gave the Nickle team architectural background to design the electrical work. In total, the design-build process took about three years, from the concept phase, through design, until the plans were agreed on.

A building on the site was demolished before Nickle Electrical employees came on board. Boots were on the ground in 2012 and Nickle began electrical work at the beginning of 2014. The first floor of the building is dedicated to the ship, excluding the lobby. There are areas committed to making improvements or repairs to the ship, such as carpentry, sanding, finishing, and rope making. The second floor has a scale model of the deck of the boat, along with classrooms, model ship collections, and a balcony to look over the dock and Christina River. The third floor serves as offices for staff and volunteers. The building totals 21,360-square-feet.

Nickle electricians rewired the shipyard’s dock for better functionality, more access points for the Kalmar Nyckel, and upgraded panels and lighting. The dock is 311-feet long, 10-feet wide, and connects to a 735-square-foot deck via a bridge and tower on the dock.

Because this was a design-build project, there was a substantial amount of planning on the front end than normal. Because of this, construction ran smoothly and heavy manpower was never needed. There was plenty of time to successfully manage the job and perform high-quality work.

Typically, electricians will install 120-volt outlets. They supply enough electricity for lights and small appliances in buildings such as a house, commercial high-rise, school, or library. But at the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation, electricians installed a special transformer to support multiple three-phase, 240-volt outlets. These outlets can power larger appliances or numerous appliances at once.

A special electric—also known as traction—elevator was installed within the building instead of a standard hydraulic elevator. Electric elevators are lifted by ropes that pass over a wheel, which is attached to an electric motor. The counter weight offsets the weight of the elevator and its occupants so the motor doesn’t have to move as much weight. This makes the elevator much more efficient.

At the beginning of the project, electricians had to do some digging on site. Since the project is located on a shipyard near the river, there was potential for contaminated soils. Twice per week for about a month, Nickle had to call in environmental consultants Brightfields, Inc. to oversee the soil and groundwater remediation to satisfy the Delaware Department of Natural Resources requirements for safe construction.

On the second floor of the building, there is a full-scale model of the deck of the Kalmar Nyckel, along with its masts, so there are sloped, vaulted ceilings that were difficult to work with. Lifts were brought in and proper safety precautions were taken to reach those heights.

Working on the new dock was also a challenge and very out of the ordinary for Nickle. Because it’s on the Christina River, electricians had to wear life vests at all times in case someone had a misstep—a very interesting uniform for an electrician. The dock is only 10-feet wide, making a very small work space, and to reach the 30-foot light poles on the dock, a boom lift was used.

This project exudes excellence. The job required patience, consistency, dependability, and thoughtfulness. Thanks to the hard work and dedication from the entire Nickle team, the project came in on time and under budget, two of the most important factors on a construction site. The ship now has a proper place to dock and receive repairs, and visitors from all over have a great facility to learn about Delaware’s colonial and maritime history. From the unique and modern design-build process to the special challenges Nickle conquered, the Kalmar Nyckel Foundation is worthy of this award-winning recognition.

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