Advice For Working With A General Contractor

Your home-building project's general contractor is its conductor. The construction of your new home will go smoothly if you choose the right general contractor (GC). All subcontractors should work in harmony. This is how you can bring the group together.

A Great General Contractor Has The Following Traits

It's a bit like choosing a general contractor. It takes a lot of luck and legwork. We're not talking about romantic relationships. Not every general contractor will be a good match for each client. However, certain general contractor qualities will help the project run smoothly.

• Communication: 

  What is the average time it takes for the general contractor's first call to be returned? You shouldn't be surprised if he takes longer than 24 hours to get back to your first call. After all, he is trying to win you business.

• Style: 

  This is your personal. Some clients require a lot more assistance. Other clients don't need a lot of handholding and are looking for straightforward and can deliver information in as few words as possible. Make sure you match personalities when interviewing general contractors. Over the next few months, you'll spend a lot together. Make sure to look forward to these interactions.

• Referrals:

  Get at least three satisfied customers to take your calls and share their experiences with the general contractor. Ask the general contractor what the best and worst aspects of working with them are. Pay particular attention to the "worst", as that will impact your building experience. For example, ask if the general contractor kept to budget and met deadlines. Ask the general contractor how they handled changes and problems that are bound to arise during projects. Finally, ask the customer if they would hire the general contractor again. This is a sign of support.

• Search Online For Lists:

  Ask your neighborhood group for general contractor recommendations. It's not uncommon for the word to spread about the good and the bad in a community. Websites like Angie's List provide reviews on general contractors as well as subcontractors.

How To Work With A General Contractor

Working with a general contractor is a partnership that relies on everyone playing their part. So it's important to be clear about your expectations. There are a lot of moving parts and money at stake.

• Contract: 

  General contractors typically work under two types of contracts when building a house.

• Fixed Price:

  A general contractor will estimate the cost of your project, including the supervisory fee. This lets you know exactly what to expect at the start. In addition, fixed-price contracts typically include a budget for each construction component, such as tile, flooring, and plumbing fixtures. This helps homeowners make informed decisions.

• Cost-Plus Percent: 

  Complex designs can be difficult to cost accurately upfront. Cost-plus contracts cost clients the actual labor and materials costs plus a percentage. The general contractor or builder makes a profit.

• Communication: 

  There is nothing more frustrating than waiting for calls back from homeowners and general contractors. To make sure each person is available in an emergency, you should exchange your phone numbers at the beginning -- cell, home, and work. Then, you can agree on how often you will touch base -- weekly, daily? - and the best time to reach you. To add comments and questions, it's a good idea for the job site to have a marker and whiteboard.

• Payment: 

  Every project needs a budget and a schedule of payments that are often coordinated with bank draws. It's important to agree upfront on how much you will pay at the project's start, middle, and end. Keep 10 percent aside until you have resolved all of your punch list issues.

• Change Orders: 

  While some choices may look great on paper, they are often not realistic in practice and should be modified. You should submit a "change order" whenever you have a change of mind. This is basically a contract amendment that states the change, the cost, and the potential impact on the schedule. Both parties must sign the order as a mutual agreement. Attach new blueprints to any change order that alters architectural features, such as room dimensions or shapes.

• Finishes: 

  It is a major general contractor complaint that clients wait for finishes to be picked. This can also disrupt the schedule. In the beginning, agree on a budget and a schedule. In contracts, many general contractors will stipulate that they will select finishes if the client does not make timely decisions.