Do you need to hire a GC?

Have a large remodeling project in your future? Below is a helpful guide….

1) Get Recommendations

Start by asking your friends and family and then check in with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry for a list of members in your area. Another way to find good Contractors is by talking with a building inspector, who'll know which contractors routinely meet code requirements.

2) Do Phone Interviews

Once you've gotten some names, put in a call to each of your prospects. This may cull some of them out right away. Contractors are notorious for not returning phone calls. If you don’t get a return call from someone in a customary time, mark them off your list – you will save yourself grief in the long run. To the Contractors you do speak to, ask the following questions: 

• Do they take on projects of your size?


• Are they willing to provide financial references, from suppliers or banks?


• Can they give you a list of previous clients?


• How many other projects would they have going at the same time?


• How long have they worked with their subcontractors?

The answers to these questions will reveal the company's availability, reliability, how much attention they'll be able to give your project and how smoothly the work will go.

3) Meet Face to Face

Based on the phone interviews, pick three or four contractors to meet for estimates and further discussion. A contractor should be able to answer your questions satisfactorily and in a manner that puts you at ease. Check in with your state's consumer protection agency and your local Better Business Bureau to make sure contractors don't have a history of disputes with clients or subcontractors.

4) Investigate the Facts

Your list should now be narrowed down – put your research to use and all up former clients to find how their project went and ask to see the finished product. Don’t rely on results alone. Ask to visit a current job site and see for yourself how the contractor works. Is the job site neat and safe? Are workers courteous and careful with the homeowner's property?

5) Make Plans, Get Bids

You have your short list of contractors whose track records seem clean and whose work ethic looks responsible. Now it's time to stop looking back at past work and start looking forward to your project. A conscientious contractor will should provide a complete set of blueprints and also a sense of what homeowners want out of a project and what they plan to spend. To compare bids, ask everyone to break down the cost of materials, labor, profit margins and other expenses. Generally materials account for 40 percent of the total cost; the rest covers overhead and the typical profit margin, which is 15 to 20 percent.

6) Set a Payment Schedule

Payment schedules can also speak to a contractor's financial status and work ethic. If they want half the bid up front, they may have financial problems or be worried that you won't pay the rest after you've seen the work. For large projects, a schedule usually starts with 10 percent at contract signing, three payments of 25 percent evenly spaced over the duration of the project and a check for the final 15 percent when you feel every item on the punch list has been completed.

7) Don't Let Price Be Your Guide

Buyer beware! You get what you pay for! We have all heard these warnings – Heed them!  Beware of your low-ball bid.  The single most important factor in choosing a contractor is how well you and the contractor communicate. All things being equal, it's better to spend more and get someone you're comfortable with.

8) Put it in Writing

Draw up a contract that details every step of the project: payment schedule; proof of liability insurance and worker's compensation payments; a start date and projected completion date; specific materials and products to be used; and a requirement that the contractor obtain lien releases (which protect you if he doesn't pay his bills) from all subcontractors and suppliers. Insisting on a clear contract isn't about mistrust, it's about insuring a successful renovation.