How To Hire A General Contractor: Tips & Considerations

Hiring a general contractor for home projects is cost-effective and saves a lot of your time. They come with the tools, materials, and expertise needed to get the job done. Home and business owners can look for specific skills before hiring a general contractor.

Choosing a reliable contractor should be easy. You can select independent contractors or contractors from companies.

Word-of-mouth references are the most common to choose from. Before hiring, you could conduct zoom interviews and learn about their work experience and skills.

In This Article

General Contractor Qualifications

Here are some key points summarizing the qualifications of a general contractor:

Education: A degree or diploma in construction management, engineering, or a related field is beneficial.

Experience: At least five years of experience in construction, preferably in a supervisory or managerial position.

Licenses and certifications: Possession of necessary licenses and certifications to operate as a general contractor in your jurisdiction.

Insurance: Adequate liability insurance coverage to protect yourself and your clients in case of accidents or damages during construction projects.

Communication skills: Excellent communication skills to effectively communicate with clients, subcontractors, and other stakeholders involved in the project.

Financial management skills: Good understanding of financial management principles to manage project budgets effectively and ensure the project is completed within budget.

Problem-solving skills: Strong problem-solving skills to effectively identify and address issues that may arise during construction projects.

A general contractor will be better equipped to manage construction projects effectively by possessing these qualifications.

Services a General Contractor Offers

Here are some of the services that a general contractor typically offers:

Project management
Design and build
Renovations and remodeling
New construction
Building additions
Site preparation and excavation
Foundation work
Framing and carpentry
Plumbing and electrical work
HVAC installation
Roofing and siding installation
Window and door installation
Flooring installation
Painting and decorating
Demolition and debris removal
Permitting and regulatory compliance
Quality control and inspection
Budget management and cost estimation
Safety management and compliance with OSHA standards
Warranty and maintenance services.

Tips To Hire A General Contractor

Communicate Tasks And Deadlines

When you find a couple of general contractors, communicate the list of tasks you need to get done and the deadlines.

Ask questions about their prior experience and look at relevant experience for the job. Compare the price and relevant experience from a couple of contractors to choose the best that suits your work.

Set Clear Budget Goals

Get an estimate of the job being done before you hire a contractor. Then, hire one that fits your budget. Sometimes, finding a contractor that fits your budget takes time. Then find one that has experience and expertise in handling the task well.

The advantage of hiring a contractor with relevant experience is you have less supervision to do. They also come with tools and equipment to get the job done.

Get quotes from different contractors to know which suits your requirement best. If it is a long project, break it into multiple phases. It will help you keep the upfront costs to a minimum. In addition, you can save money if the project has smaller tasks you can complete independently.

Avoid paying in cash. If the contractor asks to be paid in cash, be apprehensive, as it is a scam. Instead, always pay by cheque or credit card. Down payments are a norm.

You can set small limits for a down payment to start the work. Also, learn about the laws of hiring a general contractor for home improvement tasks in your state.

Do Not Compromise Price For Quality

Refrain from accepting subpar work for a low budget. Instead, get written details about the materials and tools needed to do the task. Usually, contractors willing to work on a low budget are either inexperienced, unlicensed or use low-grade tools to do the job more quickly.

You want to avoid spending money to redo the task again because of subpar work done at a low cost. Instead, hire a contractor who does quality work and gets clear about deadlines to complete the job.

Do not set deadlines and take an estimate from the contractor to know when the task can be completed. Always ask for references from previous clients and look for contractors with a good track record.

Look For the Contractor’s Credentials

Hire a contractor who is certified or a specialist in doing the task. For example, you can look for one certified in remodeling or who has a membership with the industry association. Hire a certified, licensed, and insured contractor to get quality work done.

A few things to look for are permits, worker’s compensation, reviews, and coverage for property damage. For example, suppose your property is damaged during remodeling or renovation. In that case, you can get coverage when you have relevant documents with you.

These are the list of services offered by a general contractor. They have experience in multiple tasks that can be performed within a budget. That is why it is cost-effective to hire a general contractor.

Renovation and remodeling
New Construction
Painting
Plumbing, flooring, roofing, woodworking
Repair and maintenance of electric appliances
Any repair and maintenance at home
Siding
Electric works

Get All Details In Writing

Various home improvement tasks need different tools, methods, and time to complete. Get every detail in writing, such as time to complete the job, total cost, payment methods, contractor’s numbers, license and membership numbers, and other workers’ names.

Their license numbers, cost, and payment mode. Know if additional expenses could be incurred during the project completion.

Please keep all this information in a file so it is easy to access and keep a tab on the ongoing work.

Get Beforehand Information About The Task

If you have a list of tasks, your homework about the job and how it is done. So, you know the contractor is not fooling you and is providing you with the correct information.

Having beforehand information will give you confidence that you are getting a suitable contractor providing correct details about the task and estimate.

How To Deal With Conflicts That May Arise

You do not want your home improvement projects to halt because of some hiccups developed during the task. Contactors could be difficult sometimes.

They may develop some problems with the task completed or unexpected problems.

This is how you respond to the ambiguity that may arise during the project completion.

You can salvage your time and complete the task without souring relations with your contractors or the contracting company.

Get Regular Updates

Sometimes, it is possible that you must have missed looking at a crucial detail, affecting the overall work and overhead cost.

Sometimes the contractors do not give you details of problems and carry on with the work, creating additional problems and delays.

Get a regular update about the tasks performed so you know there are no hidden conflicts and everything is communicated clearly with you.

Be Empathetic And Assertive

At times there are unforeseen circumstances and setbacks. A professional and experienced contractor will not halt his work with minor setbacks.

Getting a contractor with a stable personality is essential because things could go wrong if you hire without evaluating their personality.

It could affect their ongoing work if they do not show up at work due to personal problems or mood swings.

Check with your contractor if it is a genuine problem, and be empathetic. It does not hurt to do a background check on the contractor before hiring and get their personal and professional numbers and addresses.

A tedious task could make the contractor lose interest or be lazy. Find a way to motivate them to do better; they are humans.

But if they are conditional slackers, you must set clear limitations and get them to work on time.

Be Prepared To Amend The Contract

Numerous problems could arise, and you must be mentally prepared to solve them and nip them in the bud. When setting deadlines, have a little buffer for weather conditions, health problems, etc.

If more tasks need to be added, be flexible enough to reevaluate the contract. Get every detail in writing so you are clear. You may have overlooked a certain detail and discovered it later, which requires additional time and cost.

Be willing to accommodate these circumstances and get the best work done dealing with any conflict. Not every contractor has stellar communication skills.

Be willing to make them understand every detail and get them to sign the contract that explains the scope, cost, and task description. Look for red flags and if the job is pawned off for low-quality work. You have to supervise to ensure you are getting quality work.

Communicate With Subcontractors

Talk to the subcontractors during the task and get details of their job. Know if they are happy doing the job or facing any issues. Avoid micromanaging as it may ire them.

Sometimes while you have paid to upgrade for a part of the room, you might as well decide to remodel the entire room. When you are changing the project’s scope, discuss it with contractors and subcontractors.

A few contractors work on deadlines as they also have tasks to perform with other clients. So, they may be unable to take up additional tasks if time is their constraint.

For instance, while remodeling the bathroom, if you find termite infestation, it might not be their area to deal with. Be willing to change the project’s scope and get additional people for smaller tasks if needed.

This way, you will not leave the contractor unhappy, providing them with additional tasks which they are equipped to handle.

Hold Back Payment Until You Are Satisfied

You can hold back the final payment unless all the tasks are completed to perfection and to your satisfaction. Contractors make mistakes, and you can hold back the final payment until it is rectified.

If you are tying down payments to home loans for improvements, contractors won’t be paid unless they reach the milestones and complete the job to your satisfaction.

This works best for you, and you can use it to make payments to get the best job done.

When matters go out of hand, do not hesitate to let a legal professional handle the situation. Situations are escalated, and the contractors might be making things difficult for various reasons.

Legal professional help can help you resolve matters when you get everything in writing.

Questions to Ask a General Contractor

If you’re planning to hire a general contractor for your construction project, here are some questions you may want to ask them:

Are you licensed and insured? Can you provide proof of insurance and licensing?
What is your experience in the construction industry? Have you completed similar projects before?
Can you provide references from past clients?
Can you provide a detailed estimate of the project, including a breakdown of costs for labor and materials?
What is your project management approach, and how do you handle unexpected issues or delays?
How do you ensure compliance with building codes and regulations?
How do you manage subcontractors and suppliers?
What is the timeline for the project, and how do you handle schedule changes?
Do you offer any warranties or guarantees on your work?
How do you communicate with clients throughout the project, and how frequently do you provide updates?
How do you handle changes to the project scope or budget?
Can you provide a written contract outlining the scope of work, payment terms, and other important details?

Asking these questions can help you evaluate the qualifications and experience of the general contractor and ensure that you clearly understand the project’s scope, timeline, and budget.

Conclusion

A home improvement project has a roster of tasks to be completed. Hiring a general contractor who does a good job to your satisfaction becomes crucial. These tips help you find the best contractor and know how to handle any situation that arises during the project completion.

Remember, as a rule of thumb, to always be prepared to deal with unforeseen circumstances and get everything in writing.

FAQs

What is a general contractor, and what services do they offer?

A general contractor is a professional who manages construction projects and oversees the work of subcontractors and suppliers.

They offer a wide range of services, including project management, design and build, renovations and remodeling, new construction, and more.

How do I find a reliable general contractor?

You can find a reliable general contractor by asking for referrals from friends, family, or colleagues or by searching online for contractors in your area.

It’s important to check their licensing and insurance, as well as their experience and references.

What should I look for when evaluating a general contractor?

When evaluating a general contractor, you should consider their experience, qualifications, references, communication skills, project management approach, and budget management skills. You should also ensure that they are licensed and insured and have a good industry reputation.

How do I get an estimate for my construction project?

You can get an estimate for your construction project by contacting a general contractor and providing them with details about the project, including the scope of work, timeline, and budget.

The contractor will then provide you with a detailed cost estimate.

What should I include in a contract with a general contractor?

A contract with a general contractor should include the scope of work, payment terms, project timeline, warranties or guarantees, and other important details related to the project.

It’s important to have a written contract to protect both parties and ensure that everyone is on the same page.