The 12 Questions Most GCs Avoid —And How We Handle Them

If you’ve worked with enough general contractors, you know the difference between those who deflect and those who take responsibility. At IOC Construction, we believe complex projects deserve direct answers. We’ve built our systems and our reputation around being ready to answer tough questions honestly and effectively.

These are 12 questions architects and engineers often ask when they’re evaluating a general contractor and the kinds of responses that signal experience, preparation, and accountability. If you get vague, defensive, or overly polished answers, that’s a red flag.

1. Can you walk me through your coordination process?

Our coordination starts with a detailed preconstruction review and continues with structured check-ins, updated BIM files, and a shared platform for field notes and conflicts. Our team uses consistent check-ins with design consultants and flags issues before they land in the field.

2. Who’s tracking submittals and RFIs?

Every project has a dedicated project manager who oversees RFI and submittal logs in real time. We don’t let them pile up or go unanswered. You’ll always know where things stand. Not “the office.” Not “someone on site.” You’ll know who they are, how to reach them, and what’s pending.

3. How do you handle mistakes in the field?

We’ve made them. Every GC has. The difference is whether you hear about it late or early. We document issues, quickly communicate the next steps, resolve them fast, and prevent it from recurring.

4. What happens if permitting or inspections cause delays?

We’ve learned not to bet on best-case timelines. We build some breathing room into schedules, maintain working relationships with local inspectors, and keep you informed.

5. Has your team ever caused a budget overrun?

Yes and we’ve learned from it. It’s been early in the project, and we’ve addressed it quickly—by eating costs when appropriate and tightening internal estimating and procurement reviews to prevent recurrence.

6. What’s your actual change order process?

Clear documentation, zero drama. You’ll see the reason, cost, and time impact. If it’s unclear who’s responsible, we bring it to the table.

7. How do you maintain quality without slowing down the schedule?

It comes down to supervision and sequencing. We pre-plan critical scopes, document as we go, and aren’t afraid to pause if something’s off. Cutting corners creates rework—we’ve seen it.

8. Can I talk to another architect or engineer you’ve worked with?

Absolutely. We’re proud of our long-term relationships and they’ll give you the full story. Not every project is perfect, but our partners will tell you we stay engaged, listen well, and don’t vanish when things get tough.

9. How do you stay current on code?

We don’t wait for inspectors to catch us. Our project leads receive ongoing code updates through industry training and local association briefings.

10. What’s your approach if the schedule slips?

 We run short-interval schedules and make trade-level adjustments when needed. If the critical path shifts, we bring solutions.  You’ll never hear “we’ll figure it out later.”

11. What do you do when specs are vague or conflicting?

We raise the flag early, and suggest clarifications or alternates. We’d rather ask a tough question than build something wrong.

12. How do you handle closeout?

We assign closeout to someone early on in the process so that punchlist tracking, document control, and warranty info isn’t an afterthought.