Choosing a Partner, Not Just a Builder: Five Questions to Ask Prospective St. Louis Construction Companies

By Rob Ruehl, Vice President of Operations | Holland Construction Services

When it comes to construction, the team you choose is just as important as the building you plan to create.

With so many construction companies in the St. Louis area, the goal shouldn’t just be to hire a builder—it should be to choose a partner who will guide you through the process, navigate challenges with you, and deliver a finished product you’re proud of.

At Holland Construction Services, we’ve spent nearly 40 years earning a reputation as a construction manager and general contractor that clients trust—not just for our work, but for the way we work. One thing we hear time and time again?

“We want to build with people we don’t mind hanging out with—because we’ll be spending a lot of time together.”

They’re not wrong. The construction process is intense, collaborative, and full of curveballs. So before you make your decision, here are five questions we recommend asking any contractor you’re considering:

1. What’s your approach to building relationships—not just buildings?

Construction is personal. Your builder will be in meetings with your team for months—sometimes years. That’s why chemistry matters. You want a team that listens, collaborates, and treats your project like their own.

At Holland, we’ve built lasting partnerships by putting integrity and communication first. Many of our clients call us back again and again, not just because of what we build—but because of how we build it: with transparency, care, and respect.

2. What kind of local experience do you bring to the table?

A construction company in Missouri should know more than how to manage a jobsite—they should know the nuances of working in the region. From navigating municipal red tape to understanding labor markets, local experience matters.

Holland has completed successful projects across the entire St. Louis metro area, in both urban cores and tight suburban sites. That knowledge saves our clients time, money, and stress.

3. Who will lead the project—and how hands-on are they?

Don’t settle for a bait-and-switch. Ask who you’ll actually be working with day-to-day and how involved leadership will be throughout the project.

Whether we’re serving as your construction manager or general contractor, Holland assigns a highly engaged team—led by people who are invested in your success. We don’t disappear after kickoff. We’re there in the trenches with you, start to finish

4. How do you handle cost and schedule transparency?

The best construction companies don’t just give you a number—they give you confidence. Ask how they build their estimates, how contingencies are managed, and how delays are addressed.

At Holland, we pride ourselves on being realistic from the start. We don’t lowball bids or pad schedules. Our open-book approach, paired with proactive communication, ensures you always know where your project stands.

5. What do past clients say about working with you?

Project photos only tell part of the story. Ask for references. Learn how former clients felt about the experience of working with their team.

When our clients tell us, “We’d absolutely work with Holland again,” that’s the biggest compliment we can get. It means we showed up, delivered, and earned their trust.

Final Word

There are a lot of construction companies in St. Louis, the region, and beyond, but only a few are truly built on partnership. Holland is one of them.

We believe great buildings come from great relationships—and that starts with hiring people you trust and actually enjoy working with. If that sounds like the kind of team you want by your side, we’d love to talk.