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WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A GOOD GENERAL CONTRACTOR

You’ve been dreaming and planning, maybe for years, about the home you’ve always wanted. You’ve decided on the changes and improvements you would like to make, you’ve scrimped and saved up the money to do it and are now ready to start. The first step, and a very important one, is finding the right general contractor. This can be a daunting task, especially if this is your first foray into the world of home renovation.  Let’s go over some things to look for and questions to ask your potential contractor.

 

Do your research. One good place to start would be to ask trusted friends and family members for a referral. They might have someone who did a great job for them on a project. This is one of the best ways contractors and other tradesmen get future jobs, by word of mouth.

Reach out to your local building supplier and ask for a referral, as they deal with GCs all the time. Other building-related professionals, such as building inspectors and rain leak detection specialists, often have relationships with contractors they commonly refer their clients to. You can also do Google searches, read reviews and check out social media platforms, but in-person recommendations can generally be more trusted.

Vet at least 3 contractors by comparing a written, detailed bid that includes materials, labor, permits and the scope of work. While they are putting a bid together, check the following:

• Verify they have a GC license in the state where you are building and that they have active liability insurance.
• Check the Better Business Bureau for any complaints.
• If possible, get a job referral and go visit the site. Is it clean and organized?

Qualities you want in a contractor:

• Clear communication.
• Relevant experience, meaning they have experience with the type of job you need.
• Professionalism: Their website is professional, and past clients say good things about them.
• Trustworthy: They are honest and open about potential challenges and seem to have good relationships with others in the field.

What should raise a red flag:

• They present the lowest bid. This could mean they use poor quality materials or that they have missed an important step in the job.  
• They want cash only payments. You always want a traceable way of paying your contractor.
• They do not, as a rule, pull permits for the work they do.
• If they have immediate availability, this could be a sign that they are not competent. A good contractor usually books in advance.

Once you have selected a contractor:

Ask them how much experience they have with this particular type of remodel. Can they easily and simply explain to you how they will execute the entire project, from start to finish? Will they handle all aspects of the remodel, from designs to helping you pick out the fixtures to obtaining the necessary permits, and so on? 

Find out who their team is.

Are their tradesmen and workers in house, or do they use
subcontractors? If they use subcontractors, do they have a trusted and reliable relationship with these people?

Ask about their work routine:

Depending on the size and scope of your project, you could have these people in your home for quite a long time. You’ll want to know what time they start in the morning and when they end off. Do they work on the weekends? Will they reasonably clean up the work site at the end of each day?

Ask about the timeline for your project.

You should ask if they have a lot of other projects going on at the same time. What is their availability for your project, and when could you expect it to be done?

Find out if they expect any challenges to come up mid-project.

The answer to this question could tell you a lot about the contractor…how much they know – or don’t know – about the time period of when your home was built, what problems are somewhat typical for this type of remodel, and they should be able to relay a sense of confidence in their ability to get the job done.

Budget:

This is a big one. Have a very frank discussion with the contractor about what costs are fixed, and have them tell you what you should expect and have set aside for unforeseen conditions. Ask them how you will be billed. Will it be smaller amounts over time? What happens if you are late with a payment and need a little more time?

Find out how they will be communicating with you throughout the project.

Ask if you will be dealing directly with the general contractor, or does he have other people that help with concerns and questions? How is most correspondence done…phone calls? Emails? Texting? You will want to be sure that you are comfortable with how this person will be maintaining communication with you.

A major home remodeling project is, without a doubt, a stressful and challenging time. With some careful planning, it can get done on budget and on time, with few surprises. And at the end of it all, you will have the home you’ve been dreaming of!

Here is an example 😀