Top 7 Tips for Choosing a General Contractor

General contractors are known to perform a wide range of building and remodeling projects. When you hire general contractors, they will undertake tasks such as the purchase of materials, hiring of tradesmen and bringing in subcontractors where necessary. Therefore, you must choose your contractor carefully. Here are seven tips to help you choose a contractor:

• Ensure the contractor is licensed, bonded and insured

A contractor who has a license and insurance is definitely more credible and knowledgeable in their area. The license is proof that the contractor is qualified to provide the services that meet industry standards. Insurance is important because it eliminates liability on your part in the event that a worker gets hurt while working on your project. So be sure to ask for proof of insurance.

• Go for a contractor that specializes in your type of project

You will do well to ensure that you know the contractor’s work background in relation to your project. This is because they will know what is required, especially when you take into account the fact that most of the projects are regulated and code-specific. When you know the background of the contractor, you will be sure of dealing with an expert.

• Have a detailed contract in place before the work commences

You need to have a contract outlining the costs, brands of the items that will be installed, date of starting and finishing as well as complete set of drawing being used with clearly written specifications. Overall, the contract helps to set expectations and ensure that they are met.

• Find out who will be performing the work

It is important to find out whether the person you are hiring will do the work or they will subcontract the work to another person. You need to know the person that will show up at your doorstep. For those large jobs that involve sub-contractors, the contractor should tell you the number of people that will be doing the job such as plumbers, roofing experts and electricians.

• Give the contractor guidelines for working

You will do well to spell out the times when workers can show up at your home, the duration they can work, using the bathroom and even the specific date by which they should complete the project. If the contractor does not agree to your terms, then they should state it upfront.

• Know your responsibilities

You need to discuss with the contractor what your responsibilities are. Ask them if you need to move stuff out of the room for painting or remove the fence to allow the concrete truck into the yard or any other related task.

• Check out the contractor’s samples

You must take time to review a contractor’s work to certify that they are indeed qualified to work on your project. By reviewing the contractors previous projects, you are able to see the kind of work the company has undertaken such as historic and contemporary designs among others.

Overall, the task of selecting a contractor should not be taken lightly. You need to ensure you commit to work with a contractor that is qualified to do the job.