Checklist for Hiring a General Contractor
Owning a home comes with individual tasks and responsibilities. Hiring a general contractor ensures that you have somebody to help with every aspect of your project. That’s because a general contractor is a construction expert that oversees a project to ensure its efficient and effective completion. Here’s a checklist for hiring a general contractor.
Check Qualifications
The registration and license requirements for general contractors vary from one country or state to another. Therefore, check with your country, state, or city to know what to look for when hiring a general contractor. In most cases, a general contractor requires the following to do the job right:
- Permits
- Relevant experience
- Liability and worker’s compensation insurance
- Proper damage insurance
Services
A general contractor can specialize in specific projects like painting or roofing houses. This professional can also be multifaceted. Nevertheless, the contractor should provide equipment, material, and labor for your project.
Most general contractors can handle the following:
- Remodel or renovation projects
- New constructions
- Plumbing and electrical installations
- Painting
- Flooring
- Woodworking
- Siding
Ask Questions
Don’t make your decision to hire a contractor for your project lightly. Instead, focus on hiring a professional who will efficiently complete your construction or renovation project to ensure a great look and functional outcome.
Before hiring a general contractor, ask the following questions:
- For how long have you been doing what you do?
- In which construction areas do you have the most experience?
- Do you possess the necessary licenses and permits?
- What is my project’s timeline?
- Do you have all the required insurance covers?
- Can you share some references?
Ideally, you should hire a contractor to complete your construction project if they have the necessary expertise, experience, licenses, and permits. Also, read some reviews about the available contractor to get insights into what to expect when working with them.