01/24/2022
Important information post for those looking to hire a General Contractor!
When it seems like there are so few reputable GC’s to choose from for many potential customers, wouldn’t you like to know how to find a good one and also what makes the good ones successful?
Advice for when hiring a General Contractor:
(from a reputable General Contractor)
1. Who are they. Make sure the GC you select to work in or on your home is reputable or referred, insured, Lead Safe certified, and their employees are background checked with extensive work experience in the area of your proposed project. Your home is your safe haven and those hired to come into your home should be professionals in all areas of their trade.
2. Subs. Require information regarding the GC’s subcontractors. A good GC will only utilize subs with certifications for services like electric, plumbing, insulating, and foundations with reputable businesses in their area of expertise. A GC’s subcontractor relationships should be based off a solid history of good repeat business experiences, considering a good GC will also stand behind the work their subs perform. These established relationships are key to a GC’s success which is also key to a flawless renovation, remodel, or build for you.
3. Contracts are not just for the contractor. A contract from a reputable GC will also protect their client as well. Look for a payment schedule that ensures you are paying for services completed throughout your project on draws after your initial down payment to secure the work. Also discuss warranties with your GC. Ask for them to provide you with a check-list upon final walk through so that you can ensure your project will be completed to the outlined specifications under the scope of work proposed in your contract prior to the GC receiving their final payment.
4. Permits. It is essential that state codes be followed during builds and major renovations to protect the client and their investment into their home. A reputable GC will pull permits and will be on file and in good standing with your building department. They will also have a complete understanding of obtaining the appropriate permits for your project, the state code requirements associated with your project, and the inspections pertaining to them.
5. On the job site. A professional GC will always leave your job site clean at the end of the work day. Those that take pride in their work take pride in their site. Whether it be the GC’s direct employees or their subs, you should never see a difference in professionalism between different crews working on your project during the construction process. This practice is also a direct reflection of your GC. Your property and project should always be treated with the utmost respect by anyone contracted to work on it.
6. Project management and schedules are essential. Things can change during the course of your project, but a good GC will provide you with a schedule of material deliveries, crews, and time lframe per area of work from start to finish. Not only is this schedule good for you to know personally, but it will also help the GC catch or anticipate any potential issues ahead of time so that they might correct them without needing to delay some stage of your project. The goal should be for you to sit back and enjoy watching your vision and investment come together within the appropriate timeframe scoped.
7. Ask questions. A solid GC will have a ton of answers, useful knowledge, and helpful opinions for you, but if they can not answer a question directly, they should have the appropriate professionals and resources available to provide you with an answer and or option. Sometimes a good GC will leave a specific question to be answered by a professional in that area of expertise which will ultimately help you to make the best educated decisions on your project together.
8. Take your time. No GC should rush you into making decisions on your project or into a contract. It is just as important for the GC’s bottom line as it is for the clients investment to have decisions made on materials and a completed scope of work and services prior to a contract. A good GC will help you with these decisions and build your confidence in the process, not push through it.
9. Be patient. Any GC that can turn around a proposal in a moments notice is more than likely not a GC you will want on your project. Things can easily be missed so depending on your scope of work, a correctly prepared proposal can take some time. There is an extensive amount of behind the scenes leg work that must go into proposing a project. Whether that be research, take-offs, finish materials, support materials, multiple supplier quotes, labor assessments and additional subcontractor services, a good GC will take an allotted amount of time to prepare a complete proposal so that there are little to no financial surprises for you throughout the construction process. Ask the GC how long a proposal will take to complete on average and allow them that time to prepare it. Also ask what they do in situations they come across that are unforeseen repairs or if you choose to make a change during construction…if they build in for contingencies, apply change-order fees, or run contingencies on a per case basis. These are very important things for you to know upfront and should be outlined in a correctly prepared proposal.
Good luck to you during your search in 2022! We hope some of this information will be helpful when determining the best General Contractor for your needs!
Sincerely,
Riverwalk team
