Why hire a general contractor for your project when you “know a guy” who can do the work for you cheaper? Below are some of the reasons to always use a knowledgeable, reputable, licensed, and insured general contractor (GC).

Price

This is usually the very first thing folks think about when deciding whether to dive into a home renovation project. It is a very important piece of the puzzle, and it is imperative that you educate yourself about the labor rates and material prices in your area; however, it is not the biggest consideration. Using price as the main deciding factor for a project could come back to bite you and cost more in the end, whether it is money or frustration/energy.

Quality

High on any list will be workmanship! This is arguably the most important thing to consider.  A quality job won’t be cheap, but it will be something you can use for a long time and take pride in the fact you chose a great GC. Taking the time to make sure the job is done properly and to code reflects on the GC’s core values and how they carry themselves. Customers should definitely do their research before selecting a contractor and verify their previous work, check BBB ratings, company reviews, and word of mouth.

Warranty Issues

Imagine getting a decent job done for extra cheap but it fails within a year or two. Then, when you try to contact the “guy who did it”, you can’t get a hold of them. This is quite common in the industry as most construction companies don’t last two years, and of the ones that last two years, even less make it to five years. It is important to consider this when deciding to hire someone for a project. You want someone who will stand behind their work and take care of you even after the warranty period expires.

Professionalism

Comportment on the job site is one of the most underrated and under discussed qualities in the construction industry. Things like showing up on time, cleanliness, solution based communication, straight forward invoicing, and overall reliability are not easy to find.  It doesn’t take long for someone to tell the difference between a professional and a charlatan in this industry. The time must be taken to verify these aspects before choosing to hire someone for a home project. Problems will always come up; how committed is your GC to remaining professional, calm and coming up with the best solution while communicating well?

Liability

Typically, this is the last thing on people’s minds!  But it should be the very first thing you consider, especially when you are tackling a moderate to large sized project ($2,500 and up).  Anyone you allow to work on your home in a construction capacity should have at least $1 million in general liability insurance. If a tradesman without general liability insurance falls off your roof, it could become a homeowners insurance claim-nightmare scenario.  Hiring a GC who is insured well, preferably with $2 million in coverage, is worth its weight in black market uranium.  This really protects the homeowner from any liability, legal, or financial burdens that may result from an accident on your home project.