What value does a general contractor bring to a remodeling project?

In Phoenix and the greater Maricopa County area – the use of a GC may add a marginal amount to the overall cost of the project but it will also greatly reduce the amount of time and energy that a homeowner will have to devote to overseeing it. In addition, any problems that develop during the process can be passed onto the GC relieving the homeowner of the stress of fixing the problem while also working their regular job and dealing with day-to-day family issues.

How the process works?

The general contractor is not usually involved in the design phase of a remodeling project. Instead the homeowner works with an architect and other professionals to create a set of blue prints. These plans are then handed off to the GC. He will first develop a budget for the project and then submit it to the homeowner for revision and approval. Once this negotiation is completed, the GC will take control of the project.

The GC tarts by creating a timeline for the project that includes when certain portions of the project – known as milestones – will be completed. The timeline also details what payments will be due from the homeowner at each milestone. Once the timeline is established and the down payment made, the GC sill start the project by ordering the materials necessary for the first stage of the job and also hiring the relevant subcontractors who will perform the actual work.

As the first stage nears completion, the GC will conduct a preliminary inspection by himself. Once any flaws he finds are corrected, he will do a walkthrough with the homeowner to ascertain their satisfaction with the work. At this point, the first milestone is complete and the process is repeated for milestone two and again for any further milestones.

Completion of Project

As the entire project nears completion, the GC will also coordinate the inspections required by the local building authorities. During this stage of the project, the GC will conduct his own inspection of the work to to ensure that everything is “up to code,” meets all safety regulations and will cause no problems with the building inspector.

It is an important task as inspections must be scheduled well in advance and, if a problem does arise, the project can grind to a halt.

Finally, once all the “i’s” are dotted and the “t’s” are crossed for the government bureaucrats, the owner will be given a last opportunity to inspect the work and point out any problems he has with the workmanship. During this process, the GC fills out what is known as a “punch list” – that is, a detailing of any flaws that need to be remedied.

All of the issues described on this list will then be fixed to the homeowner’s satisfaction. A final walkthrough after the punch list is completed and the final payment is made.

Who oversees the project workmen?

Each trade – carpenters, electricians, plumbers, etc – have their own priorities when working on a remodeling project. In short, they want to provide a quality job while still spending as little time as possible on-site. This means that they often come into conflict with each other. It is the responsibility of the GC to iron out these differences and keep the project on track.

A second – but equally important aspect – of the GC’s role as an intermediary is to act as a buffer between the homeowner and the subcontractors. Subcontractors understand that the homeowner is paying for the job but they will be hesitant to take direction from them without the approval of the GC. It can be a source of frustration for a homeowner who does not understand the three-way relationship between themselves, the GC and the subs.

Instead of pointing ut problems to the subcontractors, it is simply a far superior strategy for the homeowner to communicate their concerns directly to the GC. The professional will then handle the details of fixing the problem with the subcontractors. The homeowner should also understand that handling the process in this manner is the surest way to keep the project on track in terms of b both timeliness ans budget.

How to start evaluating Phoenix General Contractors

For those homeowner with little to no experience with a home remodeling project works, finding the right general contractor can be somewhat problematic. In fact, hiring a GC who cuts corners can be downright dangerous in a physical as well as financial sense. Instead of relying on the ratings of online sites or the recommendations of a neighbor, it pays huge dividends for a homeowner to do some checking of their own. Here are the basics of the process:

The homeowner should start by checking these easily accessed resources before making even an initial decision on which home contractor to use:

The rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
The evaluation of the local Chamber of Commerce (CoC)
State licensing paperwork
Up-to-date insurance and bonding papers
Verifiable references

The BBB and the CoC have no vested interest in the particular companies they evaluate. Instead, they are more concerned that the residents of the Maricopa County area get a fair shake from the construction professionals they use. This fact makes both of these organizations and invaluable first tool when it comes to assessing the reputation of a general contractor.

Once you have limited the scope of your search for a GC by using these two tools, invite the GC over for an initial visit. They should arrive on-time and professionally dressed. In addition, they should be able to readily deliver their state licensing numbers as well as their insurance and bonding papers. Do not deal with a GC who fails at this level as it is only inviting trouble further on down the road.

With the formalities out of the way, it is time to investigate the quality of their work from the client’s perspective. Call – or preferably visit – several of the jobs that the GC has completed in the local community. it is surest way to determine the appropriateness of a particular GC for your remodeling needs.