General Contractor 101 – What to Check Before Hiring

03 Mar General Contractor 101 – What to Check Before Hiring

The quality of a general contractor extends far beyond licenses and permits. Someone who works on your home should be able to demonstrate quality work, relevant experience, and the ability to communicate about costs and timelines.

A little due diligence will pay off with better results, predictable pricing, and a working relationship that you can feel good about.

Things to keep in mind while vetting your next general contractor:

Communication Skills

Initial phone conversations offer lots of clues to how honest, transparent, and respectful the general contractor will be throughout the project.

If you deal with an administrative assistant or salesperson first, ask about who will be your point of contact moving forward — will on-site staff be as good at communicating with you as the office staff? You should be able to get answers and information whenever you want, from start to finish.

Stability and Reputation

Of course, you don’t want a general contractor who disappears during a project. You also want someone who is accountable and reputable. A general contractor should appear on review sites, offer examples of past work, and simply feel like a professional entity.

Red flags include:

• No website or directory listings
• Operating as an individual rather than a business name
• Lack of a relevant portfolio and references

Ample Staff & Resources

Beware the important difference between a dedicated small business — and a tiny operation that may get in over its head.

If you need a large construction project, does the general contractor have the staff and resources to handle every need? For a smaller job, will they bolt for a larger client in the middle of your project? Expect assurance that you will receive timely results and the attention you deserve.

Precise Estimates & Deadlines

The more guarantees, the better. Construction and renovation jobs will always require some leeway in price estimates and anticipated deadlines. However, it’s worth pinning down as many details as possible — in writing.

When you get an estimate, ask about how the general contractor handles an overrun — and what issues might raise the cost. Deadlines should also be firm, with sufficient communication about any possible delays. How a contractor communicates about these issues will speak volumes.

What’s Included?

Estimates can vary wildly between different contractors because one contractor might be hiding add-on fees while another includes more services. You want to be on the same page about included services, the prices of the finishes and fixtures you want, and other details that can affect the real costs.

Also, renovation and construction projects often reveal extra work that must be completed. What if the contractor needs to call in a plumber unexpectedly? Before it comes up, know how these situations will be handled.

Post-Project Support

From cleaning up debris to repairing imperfections, the job of a general contractor may not stop when the project itself gets completed. You want someone who takes pride in their work and offers excellent customer service post-completion.

Before you sign a contract, ask about quality guarantees and cleanup costs. The right general contractor will be forthcoming and helpful with these issues.