A general contractor is a person who will be in charge of day-to-day operations, quality control, and deadlines at your building site. A general contractor turns the visions and renderings of architects, engineers, interior designers, and others into reality. As you can imagine, the bigger the build, the more complex the role.To break down exactly what you should know about the work a general contractor handles, when to hire one and what to expect, keep on reading.The general contractor is like the office manager. They are the ones who make sure everyone is doing what they need to do.
General Contractors have a lot of responsibilities, and often require a lot of experience for large projects.
They also handle more administrative aspects. Such as developing a project timeline and managing safety standards on site. In short, general contractors coordinate and execute the construction of larger homes or commercial projects. This person, team, or firm enters into the primary contract with a property owner and handles overseeing the project.A general contractor is vital to any construction project. It would be best to have construction professionals like engineers, architects, and interior designers. The general contractor is the person who will meet to work with them.
What Are the Responsibilities of a General Contractor?
This professional oversees all daily operations. This includes maintaining quality control and meeting those deadlines.Handles the management of all vendors and subcontractors. Is the primary communicator to everyone involved during a building project.They manage the project from groundbreaking to completion. They also manage the materials, labor, and equipment, needed for the project.
When Should You Hire a General Contractor?
Suppose the construction project or renovations you want to do requires many tradespeople. You will most likely want to get a general contractor’s help. Similarly, any building project that requires you to get permits.Things will be much easier on you if you hire a professional to handle all the technical and legal details of implementing the projects.We always advise hiring a general contractor as early as possible. And bringing them in to do pre-construction services such as budgeting and scheduling.Consider these tips when hiring a general contractor to ease the process:
1. Get references
You’ll want someone with a long work record. Or, if they’re relatively new to their career, a contact who can vouch for their expertise and conscientiousness.
2. Check their qualifications
Have the candidate provide proof of their license. It’s also a good idea to check if the candidate has insurance coverage.
3. Choose the correct type of contractor for your project.
General contractors will often specialize in a particular area. Some may be better for simple home remodeling projects. Others might be a better fit for commercial projects with large crews.
4. Meet candidates in person.
There’s no substitution for talking to someone in person to get a sense of who they are. Prepare specific questions that pertain to the project you have in mind. You should also pay attention to their questions. A good contractor will ask plenty of detailed questions.That being said, there are many home projects and renovations that you probably do not need a general contractor for. Something like laying down new pipes or fixing your wiring will be acceptable without the high-level management that a general contractor will bring. For smaller projects, hiring the tradesperson directly will be more cost-effective. Rather than going through an intermediary, as there isn’t a need for complex project management. Or if it's something even more straightforward, like painting a room, you can do it yourself.
