http://www.gaplanning.com/choosing-engineering-firm/ Here's another video tip from Williams & Associates, and Athens GA engineering company. In this presentation we present what we think are the top 7 factors to consider when choosing an engineering firm for your next project.

2. Hi, we are Williams and Associates,
an Athens, Georgia based engineering
firm, here again with another tip from our
“How to” series.

3. Today I’ll be talking about how to choose
an engineering firm for your next project.

4. OK, let’s get started… here are the
Top 7 Factors to Consider
when Choosing an Engineering Firm

5. On any project, choosing your key partners
is always an important decision, and
anyone seeking civil engineering services
should
ask themselves what characteristics
and qualities they’re looking for in
their ideal service provider.

6. Based on years of experience in the
business, we’ve compiled a list of
characteristics that most companies
we work with believe are important
in making this decision.
We hope this is helpful!

7. The Most Important thing to look for is
Relationships.

8. The civil engineering firm you select should
have the best possible relationships with
government officials in your region,
state and federal reviewing agencies,
and local elected officials.

9. A good civil engineering firm uses
these relationships on your behalf in
order to gain support for your project
and make the en-title-ment processes
go as smoothly as possible.

10. Beyond Relationships,
consider these factors:

11. Number 1: Insurance.

12. We recommend that you select a civil
engineering company that maintains
at least two million dollars of errors and
omissions insurance along with general
liability and workers comp policies.

13. It is vitally important that this level
of coverage is maintained to give you
the assurance that, should there ever be
an issue or a claim against your project,
you will be adequately covered and your
project will not suffer financially.

14. Number 2: Professionalism.

15. When working with a civil engineering
firm, you and your project should always
be treated with the utmost respect
and professionalism.

16. Look for a company that strives to
maintain and enhance that reputation
with every project, regardless of size.

17. Number 3: Timeliness.

18. The project managers at great civil
engineering firms are experienced
and will be realistic and committed
when they give you a time frame
to complete a task or project.

19. They can also recommend appropriate
time frames for project entitlements that
are necessary through the various
permitting agencies.

20. Number 4: Licensure.

21. Naturally, your selected firm should hold
licenses for civil engineering at least and
possibly also for surveying and landscape
architecture, possibly even in multiple
states.

22. We also recommend that your project
be surveyed, designed, engineered, and
permitted by full-time employees who work
in a central office and not by
subcontractors who may be working in
another city,
or even another country.

23. Having all trades in-house ensures
that your chosen firm can deliver on the
professionalism, quality and timeliness
that its reputation is built on.

24. Number 5: Quality.

25. Great firms promote quality in the
workplace on every project they pursue.
Their employees understand that their
plans and specifications are the tools
that drive a project to be constructed
on time and on budget.

26. The quality of these plans directly affects
the final product in the field. Ask around
and see who contractors recommend
because they understand the importance
of quality and how that translates into a
seamless construction project.

27. Number 6: Track Record.

28. When selecting a civil engineering firm,
look for a strong track record.

29. Experienced firms have been successful
in gathering expedited site development
approvals and helping their clients
redesign difficult sites after a previous
design didn’t fit their needs.

30. Number 7: Stability.

31. Stable firms maintain their core team of
engineers, landscape architects and
surveyors despite fiscally difficult times.

32. This demonstrates their level of
commitment to their employees, and it also
gives their clients great comfort in knowing
that they will have consistent
representation throughout the life of their
project.

33. There you have it!
The Top 7 Things
to look for when selecting
an engineering firm…

34. Good luck in your selection process, and if
you’re ever in Athens, stop by and see us.

35. Until next time, all the best from