What Does a Building Contractor Do?

02 Mar What Does a Building Contractor Do?

Building contractors come from a variety of backgrounds, including construction project management or skilled trades such as carpentry. With enough experience and knowledge of the process, a building contractor brings exceptional value to the client. Building and remodeling require dozens of workers or more, with an overlapping schedule of tasks and duties.

The building contractor works with the client and any subcontractors involved. More than just a middleman, however, the contractor is a hands-on manager and builder who oversees the entire project.

What’s In the Job Description for a Building Contractor?

In a sense, everything in the construction process falls under the job description of a building contractor — and if they do not personally perform a certain task, they hire and supervise the person who does.

Tasks for building contractors include, but are not limited to…

• Agree on the general contract with you, the client
• Work with you to generate a cohesive vision for your building or renovation goals
• Coordinate with architects, designers, and engineers to develop a plan
• Examine constructability and material choices
• Determine how building codes, local ordinances, HOA rules, and other regulations may affect a project
• Hire subcontractors for specific tasks that may be plumbing or electrical in nature
• Schedule construction wisely to avoid a domino effect of delays
• Liaise between you and all other stakeholders and subcontractors involved
• Communicate with you throughout the project about progress and ongoing decisions

The Client & Building Contractor Relationship

As the client, your building contractor serves as your point of contact. The contractor advocates on your behalf to make sure your priorities and goals are met, such as specific techniques and materials you want used and benchmark dates for progress.

In the pre-construction or planning phase for a remodel, you can expect to meet and communicate with your contractor until the final detail is settled. Depending on the complexity of the project, the contractor will need to discuss numerous issues and details before beginning.

During construction, the building contractor updates the client about progress and touches base when changes occur. A material may be unavailable and needs to be substituted, or the contractor might think of a alternative to suggest that will cut costs or improve quality.

Ultimately, since the building contractor is the person hired by the client, you can think of them as your employee, surrogate, ally, and resource for information — as well as the person responsible for all outcomes.

Project Management and Subcontracting

Building contractors will typically work with their own team consisting of some combination of architects, craftsmen, and others. Tasks not fulfilled by the in-house team are subcontracted. An established building contractor will have a network of trusted subcontractors with complementary expertise.

Responsibility rests with the building contractor for the subcontractors’ quality of work, licensing, insurance, and costs. If something goes wrong, the client can expect the building contractor to handle a solution. If you want a professional contractor to take care of your building needs then contact us as we provide a service that is second to none.