Almost all of the work involved in a home renovation will be the responsibility of your general contractor, so hiring the best one is a crucial part of the success of the final result. General contractor services cover a wide variety of responsibilities, from hiring subcontractors, obtaining permits, creating a schedule, and interpreting the predetermined plan. So ask yourself, who will be the best general contractor near me, and what do I need from them?
Our Décor Aid interior designers have much experience working with general contractors. When meeting with a general contractor, it is more than just an opportunity to talk about what you want out of your renovation. Take the time to make sure you like them. And while this isn’t normally on the top of everyone’s checklist when hiring a contractor, think about how often you will be working with them. You’ll want someone that has a good temperament and appears hardworking and trustworthy. This is someone that will be spending a lot of time at your home and around your family for the next several weeks or months, so if you don’t like them, it will not make for a great experience. Take note of how they talk about past projects and what they can promise you; any indication of exaggerations or embellishments should be a sign that they aren’t as forthcoming, and you should move on to the next option for your general contractor services.
Ensure that your choice for a general contractor is licensed and insured before hiring them. Not only does a license ensure that your general contractor has proven they are knowledgeable on building codes and processes, but it allows you to feel a bit more relieved and place more trust in their general contractor services. You can get their license number to verify their status and feel secure moving forward with them.
Your general contractor should also be insured. Ask yourself, who are the best residential general contractors near me, and are they all insured? If the answer is no, you’ll want to immediately remove anyone from your list of potential choices and find one who is. Insurance is an absolute necessity, because if a worker on your project gets hurt, without it you may be liable. Additionally, if any damage occurs on your neighbors’ property, you’ll need the contractor’s liability to cover damage costs, or else you may be covering them yourself. Get proof of insurance before taking on their general contractor services.
You’ll also want a general contractor that specifically specializes in the type of project you have. When conducting a search, you can look up phrases like residential general contractors near me, or commercial general contractors near me, in order to specify which type of renovation this will be, and who is best suited for the job. They should have performed the same general contractor services on other similar projects, and have experience with the types of processes and regulations they require. Since many types of renovations vary in regulations and codes you’ll want someone who understands the importance of the differences.
Also think about the reputation of this general contractor. What do you know about their past work and job history? If they are a general contractor that is local to you, there’s a good chance they produce good quality work. Think about it, if there is a general contractor near me that has been around for years, this must mean that they are reliable, as they would likely be out of business by now. Still, we encourage you to research the quality of their general contractor services. You’ll also want to check their legal status to ensure there are no liens or outstanding fees from past projects that they have not paid. While this may seem like a lot of work, it is necessary to ensure you have the most legitimate services.
Before starting any work, you will need to have a contract with your general contractor in place. This contract should include all the details of the project, down to the very minor ones, to ensure that a plan can be followed strictly with no room for discrepancies of any kind.
When going over this contract, you should also have a discussion about any guidelines you need to set for your project. Things like if you prefer the team does not show up before a certain time, stay later than a certain time, which bathrooms they are permitted to use, what date they are expected to be finished by, and any other points of interest you feel should be made clear. While this may seem over ambitious, things like earliest and latest working hours will help your contractor determine the time frame, and if the project is able to be completed on time. If you keep all of these things in mind regarding general contractor services, you’ll be on your way to having an efficiently completed project.
