Managing Subcontractors: Communication That Prevents Disputes
Most Disputes Are Communication Failures
In our experience, 80% of subcontractor disputes trace back to unclear expectations, not bad workmanship. Fix the communication and you fix most problems.
Pre-Start Meetings
Before any sub starts on site, hold a 30-minute meeting covering: scope boundaries, quality standards, programme dates, coordination points, and payment milestones. Document it.
Daily Briefings
A 10-minute standup each morning with active trades resolves more issues than any amount of paperwork. Who needs what, who is blocked, what changed overnight.
Written Instructions for Changes
Never give verbal instructions for scope changes. Every change, no matter how small, gets a written instruction with cost and time implications noted. This protects both parties.
Progress Photography
Take timestamped photos daily. They resolve 90% of "he said, she said" disputes about what was done, when, and to what standard.