For many veterinarians, selecting a contractor feels like a straightforward decision: get a few bids, compare the numbers, and move forward with the lowest price. Unfortunately, this approach often leads to delays, unexpected costs, and frustration once construction is underway.
Veterinary practices are not standard commercial projects. They are highly specialized healthcare environments with unique requirements for medical gases, equipment coordination, workflow efficiency, and regulatory compliance. Choosing a contractor without veterinary experience—or choosing solely based on price—can quietly set your project up for problems.
Why Veterinary Construction Is Different
Veterinary practices require precise coordination between design, equipment, engineering, and construction. Floor plans must align with clinical workflows, structural elements must support heavy equipment, and utility infrastructure must be planned well in advance. A contractor unfamiliar with these requirements may underestimate the complexity of the project, leading to missed scope items and costly corrections later.
The Hidden Risk of the Lowest Bid
A low bid often means one of three things: scope items were missed, assumptions were made instead of clarified, or the contractor lacks experience with veterinary projects. While the initial number may look appealing, these gaps typically resurface as change orders, delays, or compromised quality once construction begins.
Questions to Ask Before Signing a Contract
Before selecting a contractor, veterinarians should ask:
- How many veterinary or healthcare projects have you completed?
- How do you coordinate with equipment suppliers and designers?
- What is included in your scope—and what is excluded?
- How do you handle unforeseen conditions and changes?
Clear answers to these questions can reveal whether a contractor understands the realities of veterinary construction.
How the Wrong Choice Shows Up Later
Projects with the wrong contractor often experience timeline overruns, budget creep, and strained communication. More importantly, veterinarians may feel forced into reactive decisions during construction—decisions that could have been avoided with the right partner from the start.
Choosing the right contractor is not about finding the cheapest option. It is about selecting a partner who understands your vision, your clinical needs, and the true scope of building a veterinary practice.
