So you are considering hiring a contractor. After putting off those home renovation projects for the past few months you are ready to tackle them! Now you need to know how to go about finding the right professional.
Hiring a contractor is a big decision! You need someone who has the qualifications and experience to do the job right the first time.
You also need to hire a general contractor you can trust. Chances are, at some point during your renovations they will be in your house when you are away or at work. So, they need to be trustworthy enough to be on their own.
How do you go about hiring a contractor you can trust? Fear not! We are here to help. Read on to discover everything you need to know about general contracting!
What Does a General Contractor Do?
It is always best to start at the beginning when it comes to such matters. So let’s do that!
There are two different interpretations of what a general contractor’s duties are. This is because not all general contractors describe themselves in the same way. Some general contractors consider their primary role to be supervisory. Others prefer to work independently.
General contractors who oversee subcontractors tend to supervise the entire renovation project. Some renovation projects require many different professionals. For example, if you are renovating your kitchen you may need a plumber, an electrician and a painter.
Without a general contractor, you would need to coordinate your professional’s schedules by yourself. If you hire a contractor they will organise these schedules with your project schedule. This will ensure that the project will flow smoothly and efficiently. It will also free up time so that you can spend more time doing what you love!
In contrast, independent general contractors often tackle many of the different renovation jobs themselves. Some general contractors have training in several different fields.
Take the example of your kitchen renovation. Say you need your backsplash tiled and new lighting installed. Some general contractors may have experience tiling and are also certified electricians. In this case, a general contractor might be able to complete your kitchen renovation on their own.
If you aren’t sure whether your general contractor works as a supervisor or on their own be sure to ask!
Image Credit
Who Hires General Contractors?
As you sit there looking at your renovation project you might wonder if you need a general contractor. That then begs the question, who hires a general contractor?
The answer is simple, a lot of people! A general contractor ensures that no matter the project size the process runs smoothly. This means that a general contractor is handy to have for both small and large projects.
Is the renovation project you are looking at relatively small? If your project only involves one room you might think you could get away with doing the job yourself.
Before you start tackling the renovation yourself remember the kitchen example. Even though the kitchen is just one room, a kitchen renovation can be complex.
Do you know how to install lighting, fix wires, tile a backsplash or update plumbing? If not then you could run into trouble trying to finish the project yourself.
The kitchen is not the only room that can become complex either. A bedroom renovation sounds simple enough, right? Well, that depends on the situation.
Do you just need the walls painted, or do you need the flooring done as well? If you just need the walls painted consider if they need any plaster touch ups. If you aren’t familiar with plastering you could run into trouble even though the concept appears simple.
So, a lot of people hire a general contractor to ensure that even the smallest of jobs is completed efficiently. Whether your contractor is a supervisor or independent they will know how to make your renovation perfect!
Why Should You Consider Hiring a Contractor?
If you look hard enough you can find a DIY article on just about anything. So, it is easy to forget that just because you can do something yourself it does not mean you should. Could you update or fix your plumbing and electrical wiring? Maybe you could. Does that mean you should? Maybe not.
Without proper training, if you meddle with your plumbing you could end up flooding your home. Trying to update your electrical wiring can also be dangerous. You don’t want to cut the wrong wires, and electrocute yourself!
Sometimes it is just better to leave it up the professionals! It will save your time, protect you from potential safety risks and even save you money.
Need help finding a top general contractor in your area? Easily compare quotes from contractors near you on Bidvine.
Image Credit
