Steps to find a good general contractor

There are a number of important questions to consider when looking for a general contractor. Obviously, you will want to find a contractor that is best suited for the job, and you will also want to get a good price for quality work. Unfortunately, there are numerous challenges in finding a suitable contractor at the right price. In most cases, you will end up with a general contractor who will charge you an arm and a leg for quality work, or a less capable contractor who will give you a budget fee. That said, there is a middle ground between these two extremes, and it is entirely possible to find a reputable contractor who will do a satisfactory job for you at a price you can afford.

Here are some important steps in finding a good general construction contractor:

Make a short list of potential general contractors to consider

Finding a good contractor is almost the same as finding any other type of qualified personnel. A good way to start is by asking for recommendations from people you know. If a certain general contractor has done a good job for someone you know, your friend is likely happy to tell you about him. You can also check with construction supply stores in your city or check online service listings that have a reputation for strict criteria. It is probably best to avoid the phone book listings, as there will be no way to verify the contractor credentials you will find on these listings.

Look at the qualifications of each contractor

After you've made a list of worthy building contractors, it's time to take a closer look at each candidate's qualifications. At a minimum, you'll want to make sure each person you consider has a general contractor license and sufficient insurance coverage for workers' compensation, property damage, and personal liability. Then you can meet with each contractor that meets your criteria and find out whether or not they can meet the job and scheduling requirements. Now would also be a good time to ask each contractor for references of satisfied customers they have worked for in the past.

Here is a little tip regarding checking potential contractor references: Always ask to see the work that your potential contractor has done for past clients. Simply talking to the old customer over the phone is not enough, as there will be no way to verify whether or not the contractor you are considering has done some work for them. By visiting the client's home, you will be able to inspect the contractor's work first hand and verify that your potential contractor has done a good job. Don't be too shy to ask to see his house either. Most people who have successfully done work at home will be happy to show it off.

Request a quote from each contractor.

After checking each contractor's ratings, you should be able to narrow down your list even further. Your next step would be to request a quote from each of these potential candidates. While getting a good price is a major concern, you don't necessarily want to hire the contractor that offers the lowest offer. Many start-up general contractor companies often offer prospects well below the market rate as a means of getting their foot in the door, so to speak. While it is true that everyone has to start from somewhere, and this applies to commercial general contractors as well, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to hire an inexperienced contractors near me for a major construction project. Let other people with money to spare be the guinea pigs for inexperienced contractors! Many contractors with a less than stellar record in the business will also offer you a lower-than-normal bid to improve your industry reputation. Therefore, you need to consider other factors besides price when considering which of these building contractors to hire for the job.

Make sure the contractor you hire is easy to work with

Despite your best efforts to verify each contractor's qualifications, there will be little indication of how well you and the contractor will get along once the work has started. Once you've signed the contract and the job has started in earnest, the last thing you want to know is that the contractor you have hired tends to be unavailable at crucial times or is prone to mood swings!