Home Improvement Contractors - How to Avoid a Love-Hate Relationship With Your General Contractor

It's no secret. Contractors don't always have the best reputations. Often, they are loved and hated at the same time. It's a bit like bitter-sweet candy that puckers your mouth when you eat it but you just gotta have some more. Should we simply accept that contractors are to be viewed as necessary evils? No, not at all. But, what do you do ensure a good experience?

 

What is a Building Contractor? 

First, I want to give some brief descriptions so we're on the same page. In basic terms, a contractor is a builder. These builders either provide specific and narrow services as "tradesmen" (or subcontractors) such as plumbers, framers, and electricians, or they can have broader duties and manage entire projects as a General Contractor. In most cases, contractors are licensed. There are different licenses for each. Some licenses provide for a broad range of duties and others are very specific.

 

In most home improvement projects, tradesmen/subcontractors are used to complete specific projects like framing an addition, adding plumbing, or installing more electrical wiring. A General Contractor can be used to hire and manage those subcontractors. If the project is small or simple, many homeowners will skip this step. Instead, they elect to find their own subs and manage the project themselves.

 

The Value of a Good Builder 

Let's refer to the General Contractor as your "Builder." A good builder brings a lot to the table. Hopefully there's a lot of knowledge and experience behind him/her. But, there's a lot more to it than just experience.

You hire a builder because you want someone to make sure that you get what you want. You want him (or her) to manage the process, hire the subcontractors, purchase the materials, get the proper permits, draw the plans, keep the job moving forward and keep you informed.

 

A good builder executes and communicates. Poor builders muddle through projects and hide from the homeowner. Good builders earn and maintain trust. Poor builders skirt the issue of trust from the beginning (often by making wild promises) and go downhill from there.

 

What Should You do as a Home Owner? 

Simply put, you want an excellent manager. One that executes and communicates. Every project has challenges and set backs. Do your research, check references, and find a builder that has these skills to go along with his knowledge and experience.

 

Your experience with the builder you choose is also up to you. Clearly state from the beginning just what you expect. Demand to be kept "in the loop" about what's going on ... especially when those challenges arise. Set communication schedules and keep them. Let the builder know that you want explanations for delays and plans on how they will be dealt with.

 

Remodeling Can Be a Great Adventure 

Love-hate is for the birds and it just doesn't have to be that way. You want a great result in your home improvement project but why go through hell getting there? I don't know about you, but I'd forget the bitter-sweets and start poppin' some chocolates.

You can learn so much more about home building and remodeling online. One great option is to take advantage of a very informative yet simple to follow *free* e-course that you can find by clicking here http://www.DreamHomeCreation.com You will also find other tips and tools, surveys, videos, and additional articles by Mel Inglima.

Hiring Home Builders - Your General Contractor is Not Your Plumber

You can't just get away with saying "Builder" any more. If you are building or remodeling your home, you're going to need building professionals at some point. Even as an "owner builder" you'll be working with industry contractors.

You need to know who these professionals are to plan and manage your project well.

Question: What's the difference between a General Contractor (GC) and a subcontractor?

Answer:

It's really a question of who manages the project. If you are managing the project as an Owner Builder, you are the General Contractor (or GC.) Tradesmen, like plumbers and electricians work for you.

Instead, you could elect to hire a GC and let him hire and manage these trades people (also called subcontractors/subs.) There is normally one GC and many subcontractors. This may seem obvious but the confusion comes in when so many people refer to both the GC and the subs as their "builders." Sure, they're all builders but they have very different responsibilities.

The Subcontractor Specializes

A plumber is a builder, an electrician is a builder, a roofer is a builder, an excavator is a builder, and so on. But, they all specialize in their specific expertise. They do not manage the entire home building project. They don't coordinate their efforts with other "builders." They simply perform their tasks.

These are known as subcontractors or tradesmen. They specialize. They do not generalize.

The General Contractor Generalizes

The General Contractor (GC) on the other hand, does generalize. The GC is more of a manager or supervisor and "Jack of all trades." He or she will take charge of the entire project, hire and fire subcontractors, manage their coming and going, inspect the quality of their work, keep the project moving forward, and ... hopefully ... report to you about what is going on.

Also, a GC may not do any labor and may have no employees. A tradesman will usually have a crew and manage his crew while being "managed" by the GC.

Keep this in mind if you plan to be your own GC. It's a big job and I recommend that you hire a Home Building Coach to assist you.

We'd like to give you a FREE email course called "Dream Home Creation" that you can find by clicking here http://DreamHomeCreation.com The order button is on the upper right corner of the page. Again, there is no charge or obligation. You will also find other tips and tools, surveys, and additional articles by Mel Inglima.

Do You Really Need a Contractor For That Home Project?

Some things to consider, how big is the project and does it involve some different trades such as an electrician or a plumber? If so then yes it might be a good idea. A licensed contractor will have subcontractors who do these other trades and will be responsible for their work performance and quality. Another reason may be you don't have the time or just want the job done from start to finish without any hassles. A contractor will also do all the leg work for permits, inspections and keep the job going on a schedule. This does require doing some research on your part and finding a good quality contractor and even then you may end up with a bad experience.

Consider the project carefully. Have a clear vision of the job. I would venture to say most people are on a budget and do want some hands on approach. Hiring a contractor for the whole job often times is quite expensive and you may want to consider a different approach. This will be more work but also may come at a considerable lower cost.

One approach is as simple as talking to a good carpenter. A good carpenter not only can handle the whole building process but a lot of times have a good understanding for the permits and inspections necessary for the job. A carpenter however is generally not licensed or required to be licensed but as a sub contractor are required to carry certain liability insurance and work comp policies and certificates. Ask for some references from this carpenter and be sure to ask for proof of these certificates before hiring a carpenter for your project. Ultimately you are responsible for the building codes and regulations involved in the building process, however it is easily obtainable with a little research.

For the other trades needed for the project it could be as easy as looking in the yellow pages for a company that does this work. Again a little research on the company is advisable and if you are happy with the results then get on their schedule.

Your carpenter may also be able to suggest some people or companies for these trades and at a lower cost. Again check them out.

Is all of this research and responsibility worth it? From a financial stand point, yes it may be, from a time or headache stand point may be not, it depends on where you want your savings to be. There are vast amounts of information out there to answer your questions. Whether you hire a contractor or contract yourself, things don't always go smoothly and unexpected things can happen. Be ready for potential problems and stay positive.

Pat Fisher is a professional carpenter and woodworking craftsman. For more information on finish carpentry and household carpentry projects, visit http://www.finishcarpentryhelp.com and pick up your free eBook.