Beware of the low bid.
In the big league, when the bids come in, usually the lowest bid and the highest bid are tossed out. There is good reason for this. The value of a proposal is clearly not just the price, but what you get for the money. The client expects good value, professional workmanship, and a problem free relationship with the contractor/provider of the service. If there is a problem, it usually costs money to resolve and there goes the savings in choosing the low bid. Checking out the references and the reputation of the contractor cannot be emphasized enough.
QUALIFICATIONS:
The qualifications of the geo contractor are very important. In the electrical world permits and licenses are clearly defined. In the plumbing world permits and licenses are clearly defined. In the hvac world it’s the Wild West. What are the qualifications of your low bid geo contractor? Is he a member of the CGC (Canadian Geoexchange Coalition)? Does he know what CSA 448 is?
The CGC develops training and standards for the advancement of geoexchange technology in Canada (and contributes to the rest of the world too). Your contractor should be a member of the CGC. If he isn’t, why not? Membership demonstrates that he is willing to be accountable to his peers and his clients. What trade qualifications do his employees have?
