General contractor play an essential role in residential construction projects. You can think of them as the project manager who oversees all the subcontractors and tasks related to your home renovation or new build. This is why good communication is so important before the building starts.
The general contractor helps you coordinate all the various specialists, streamline communication, ensure quality control and keep track of time and budgets. They are responsible for ensuring that everything is coming together as planned. Here are five essential questions to ask your general contractor before they start your work.
1. What Is Their Track Record?
Knowing how successful and trustworthy a general contractor has been with their past clients is essential. If you can only find reviews on unverified sites like Yelp, you must take them with a grain of salt. You’ll want to do some digging and find out if the company is certified by organizations like the BBB that verify their trustworthiness.
You can also ask for references from past clients to get a better idea of how much others appreciated their services. It’s not just about how satisfied a customer was with the project but also how well the general contractor handled the relationship and process from start to finish.
2. Are They Licensed and Insured?
Contractors need to be licensed by your state’s government. This means that they’ve undergone an application process, and their information has been vetted. You can use your state’s contractor licensing board to verify their license information.
Several organizations offer insurance for contractors. If something goes wrong on your project and it’s deemed the contractor’s fault, the insurance company will step in to cover the costs. You can ask for proof of both of these things before hiring a contractor.
You definitely want the right person to build your home before you choose the sliding pocket doors, windows, flooring, and other important items for the home. You want to discuss what your preferences are with the general contractor.
For instance, you want to make sure the pocket doors are made of durable materials and can withstand the passage of time. A sliding pocket door can also be installed within an hour or two. This means you won’t have to wait for an installation, which can sometimes take weeks.
3. What’s Their Process for Managing Change?
Some changes are going to happen on every project. It’s inevitable. The important part is how the general contractor manages these changes. You want to know how the contractor will handle any changes that come up and how they’ll keep the project on time and within budget. Be aware of any general contractor who can’t seem to provide a clear answer to this question. You don’t want someone quick to make changes without consulting you first.
4. What Are the Final Costs Up Front?
Before work on your project begins, you want to ensure you and your contractor both have a clear understanding of the final project costs. You may have already discussed your budget with your contractor, but you must get this information in writing, so neither party is surprised by the final numbers. You also want to ensure that your contractor won’t start work on your project until they have your final payment ready. This is especially important if you’re hiring a contractor who is privately financing the project.
5. What Is the Process for Final Payment?
This is also a very important question. You want to make sure that the contractor you hire will be paid in a timely manner. This means that you need to have a clear understanding of how your final payment will be made. You’ll want to make sure that it will be paid using the same payment method discussed at the project’s start. You’ll also want to see if any penalties or fees are involved if you fall behind on your payments.
By understanding these five questions, you’ll be able to find a contractor that you can trust. They will be able to get the job done on time and within budget. Before you know it, you will have the beautiful home of your dreams. Just have good communication throughout the building process and your building experience should go smooth.
