Why Waste Money on a General Contractor?
You’re ready to build that addition or remodel your kitchen. As you ask friends for recommendations on general contractors, your new brother-in-law pipes up, “Why waste money on a general contractor? The subcontractors do all the work, after all.”
At this point, you might want to ask your sister if she plans to have kids and has considered the potential consequences of that questionable logic!
Let’s put it this way: imagine you’re shopping for groceries. Instead of one-stop shopping, you’re running around town—one store for meat, another for vegetables, a third for fruit, and then you’re off to find toilet paper and laundry soap. Now, imagine translating this grocery nightmare into the construction process: pulling permits, finding and qualifying subcontractors, scheduling demolition or excavation teams, locating people to pour foundations and sidewalks, and coordinating with framers, electricians, plumbers, painters, roofers, tilers, and cabinet makers—all while managing inspections.
What if the lumber that gets delivered is the wrong type, or the custom cabinets don’t fit properly? Or maybe one of the subcontractors has a family emergency, and you suddenly need to find a replacement in the middle of the project, causing everyone else to slow down. You get the picture—it can quickly become overwhelming!
Construction is a highly specialized field that requires extensive knowledge. You need to understand building codes and safety requirements, know the correct sequence of tasks, and be able to differentiate between shoddy and quality work. Spotting mistakes and getting them fixed promptly is crucial.
Enter the general contractor (GC). A licensed professional with a wealth of knowledge, a GC can coordinate an entire team without anyone stepping on each other’s toes. They know what needs to be done and in what order, ensuring a smooth process from start to finish.
What a General Contractor Does
A general contractor is responsible for:
- Labor, Materials, and Equipment: They provide everything needed for the job.
- Quality and Safety: They ensure that all work meets high standards and that the job site is safe.
- Insurance: They carry insurance, taking on liability for any property damage caused by subcontractors or any injuries that occur on-site.
Subcontractors are more likely to respond promptly to a GC they have a relationship with. Established trust means they depend on each other for ongoing work. A GC knows what subcontractors charge, which saves you time and money—no haggling or worrying about overcharges.
Unethical subcontractors prefer to work directly with homeowners, who often have limited knowledge of construction. This lack of familiarity can lead to unnecessary charges or work. If a subcontractor isn’t performing well, a GC can replace them quickly, usually just with a couple of phone calls. In contrast, you would have to start the search process all over again, resulting in delays.
It’s also easier to get a subcontractor back to fix an issue when a GC oversees the project. They have a personal stake in ensuring the job is done right, not just for their reputation but also for insurance purposes. Plus, since subcontractors rely on GCs for future work, they’re more likely to keep them happy.
A good GC can spot existing issues that may be hard to see, such as weak water pipes, substandard electrical wiring, improper framing, or code violations. They know what to look for and will inspect the work being done.
Some clients have tried to handle projects themselves and have said they’d rather pay someone from their savings account than go through that experience again. Dealing only with a GC instead of each subcontractor individually saves considerable time and money. A competent GC works daily to coordinate projects successfully, making it much easier than figuring out a complex process during your evenings and weekends.
Of course, for some, the idea of confusion and extra work might seem exciting. If that’s you, then maybe skipping the GC is the way to go.
But for everyone else, hiring a GC is not just a smart choice; it could be considered vital to your sanity!
