When your church decides to embark on a building project, hiring professional help is always a good idea Whether you’re working with architects on church design, planning a stewardship campaign, or managing construction, the right professional team can make all the difference. But here’s what some church leaders discover too late: not all professionals are equally qualified. Here are some tips for hiring the right professionals.
Too Good to Be True? It Probably Is
One mistake we see church leaders make is getting swept up in unrealistic budget promises. A contractor comes along with an amazingly low-cost estimate for your church building project, promising to deliver more than you could imagine for less than you expected to spend. The pitch sounds great. The numbers look good. But if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
We’ve discussed this recently in our article on pre-engineered metal buildings, but the principle applies across all types of church construction. Some contractors simply underestimate costs dramatically, either out of inexperience or because they’re trying to win your business at any cost. Others may be cutting corners or using substandard materials to hit their inflated promises. Either way, you end up paying more later through delays or quality issues that weren’t anticipated in that initial bargain-basement estimate.
When evaluating outside help for your church building project, ask detailed questions about the proposed materials to be used. Request pictures or examples of finished products to see if they meet your expectations. If one estimate is significantly lower than the others, find out why before signing anything. Understanding many components such as HVAC or electrical systems may be outside your comfort zone so be sure to request a thorough explanation. A trustworthy professional can explain their pricing and justify it with experience.
Do Your Homework: Check References and Actual Church Projects
This is another place where church leaders can fall short. We always recommend checking references and verifying the actual experience of anyone you’re considering to design or construct your church building. But here’s the catch: don’t just ask about any buildings they’ve completed. Ask specifically about churches they’ve designed and/or built.
A contractor who has built shopping centers, office buildings, or residential developments might have the construction chops to manage a project. But a church building is different. It has unique considerations that go beyond standard commercial construction. You want professionals who have successfully completed multiple church projects on time and on budget.
When checking references, talk to church leaders who have worked with the contractor or design firm. Ask about their experience. Did the project stay within budget? Were there unexpected surprises or disputes? How did the professionals handle problems that arose? Would they hire them again? These conversations will tell you far more than any portfolio or marketing materials.
Never Pay Upfront: A Cautionary Tale You Don’t Want to Repeat
This one hits hard, because we just heard about it recently. A church experienced a devastating fire and received an insurance settlement to help with rebuilding. They found a contractor who seemed like a good fit, but during the project, the contractor asked them to pay a significant portion of that settlement money upfront. The church complied, believing that they were following standard practice.
Then, the contractor walked off the project. No communication. No return calls. No one showing up to the site. The money was gone. The building remained unfinished. The church had lost their building in the fire, spent their insurance money, and still didn’t have a place to meet.
Standard practice in construction should involve payments tied to completed work , not upfront deposits before work begins. Be wary of any contractor or professional who demands significant payment before they’ve started the job.
The lesson here is simple: do your research upfront. Check backgrounds. Verify experience. Ask tough questions. It takes more time on the front end, but it saves enormous headaches and expense down the road.
Take the Next Step: Join Our i3 Webinars
If you’re thinking about a church building or church design project, we invite you to sign up for our free i3 webinars. Visit our website to see the topics, and to register for an upcoming session.