A general contractor is somebody you employ to coordinate a project whether it is a home remodel, a room or a building construction. But why do hire general contractors?

3 Reasons to Hire a General Contractor by HomeAdvisor answers this question for you. Below is an excerpt.

“Organization. Keeping a large project organized from start to finish is difficult. A general contractor will hire subcontractors, order materials, inspect completed work, tackle payroll and handle paperwork. And, a professionally organized project will eliminate mistakes and keep your job within budget.

Quality results. Organizing a job without the proper knowledge can result in faulty construction and expensive repairs. Your general contractor will keep your job on track and ensure a successful project. Also, your pro will have the knowledge to answer any questions or concerns you may have during the project.”

Contractors on all projects should:

  • make certain the client knows the client duties before any task begin
  • plan, manage and keep track of all work done by themselves or their workers, considering the risks to anybody who could be affected by it (such as members of the public) as well as the measures required to protect them
  • check that all employees they appoint or hire have the training, skills, experience, and knowledge to perform the work, or are in the midst of obtaining them
  • make certain that all workers have an appropriate, site-specific induction,
  • provide proper supervision, info, and directions to workers
  • make sure they don’t begin work on the site unless steps have already been taken to inhibit unauthorized access
  • ensure appropriate welfare facilities are given for workers from the start, and maintain them all through the work

Aside from the responsibilities above, contractors working on jobs involving numerous contractor should:

  • coordinate their work with the other project team’s work
  • comply with instructions given by the principal contractor or principal designer
  • comply with parts of the construction plan relevant to the work

Where the contractor is the only one working on a project, they should make certain a construction plan is set up before starting the project.

When working as the single contractor for one domestic client, the contractor assumes the client duties and their own as the contractor. But, this ought to involve them carrying out simply what they’ll typically do to abide by health and safety law.

Where a domestic project takes in many contractors, the principal contractor typically assumes the client duties, and he or she will work to the main contractor as “client.” If the domestic client doesn’t employ a principal contractor, the principal contractor’s role should be done by the contractor and the client duties should be done by the contractor managing the construction phase.

4 Big Benefits of Hiring the Right General Contractor by Lenox Hill also adds further info on why we should hire the proper GC. The following are just two of the advantages of employing one.

“Trusted Tradesmen

A general contractor should have a large network of trusted tradesman and subcontractors. Hiring and managing top-tier tradesman ensures that the job is done right the first time, reducing the need for parts of the project to be done multiple times, and saving money on the project overall.

Licensing, Permitting and Insurance

General contractors are licensed (or hire licensed tradesmen) to do the job. They pull permits and interact with city, state and building offices to ensure all aspects of the project are up to code. In addition, they carry worker’s compensation and liability insurance to protect themselves – and the owner – against accidents.

When you finally decide to hire a GC, how do you do it? Finding a general contractor you can rely on is not an easy task. That’s why Hiring a Contractor by HomeAdvisor provides this info for you.

Get Referrals

Starting your search by getting recommendations is one of the quickest ways to narrow down your list of potential contractors. Reach out to friends and family members, head down to your local home improvement center, and take advantage of the free rating and reviews offered by sites like HomeAdvisor.com.

Do Your Research

Once you’ve made your list, call each contractor and ask them if they take on projects your size, if they have the time and resources available to complete your project, how long they’ve been in business and whether they’re licensed and insured. If they give you the answers you’re looking for, ask them for references and set up an in-home consultation. During their visit pay attention to how well they communicate. Given the amount of time you’ll be interacting with them, you want to be able to trust that you’ll be able to work together without issue.”

To learn more about the pros of hiring a general contractor and how to look for one, feel free to contact us. You will find our information in the Contact Us section.