How to find the right General Contractor for your project

It might seem like an overwhelming task, but finding a General Contractor doesn’t have to be. If you’re looking for a General Contractor right now, time is of the essence, so we’ll get right into it! We’ve outlined 6 tips for choosing the right pro for your project. You got this!

Get referrals 

When hiring any professional, referrals are key to finding someone you can trust. Hiring a General Contractor should be no exception. Ask for recommendations from friends, family, or community members who have recently hired for their own similar projects. 

Get a few bids

Don’t feel stuck with your first bid. We’ve worked with people who got multiple bids at drastically different ends of the spectrum. Once, a contractor quoted $70,000 for the same site work that the second contractor quoted for $15,000. Especially in a market where skilled labor is in high demand, make sure you’re not agreeing to a price out of desperation.

Don’t choose only based on price 

How will you know when you find the right professional? Everybody loves a good price, but don’t let the number you’re quoted be the only consideration. Before you get bids, determine what’s important to you aside from the cost of the work. If one bid is way lower than the rest of them, you might have found the most fair contractor—or the least experienced. Spend some time looking beyond price to get a sense of the person you’ll be working with. 

Interview your General Contractor 

Interview contractors on the phone or in person to make sure you communicate well together, as this will make a big difference throughout the project. You don’t have to set up a formal interview process, but have a checklist handy with some key questions you’d like to ask. This brings us to the next point.

Ask good questions. 

Here are just a few examples of questions you might ask to get a sense of the contractor’s experience and work style:

What’s their availability like?

Can they provide references? 

Do they understand the needs of your project? 

How long have they worked with their subcontractors?

Do some research. 

You might check Google Business reviews your local Better Business Bureau to make sure the contractor has a good reputation. You could save yourself from months of headaches by spending a few minutes on a background check for the person you’re planning to hire. A lot of tradespeople do not have a formal place for reviews, especially if they’re a small business, but it’s still worth finding out. After your project is complete, you can also help others by providing an honest review of the service you received.

By doing a little due diligence and trusting your intuition when you meet a new professional, you can avoid regrets and set yourself up for a mutually beneficial relationship with your General Contractor.

We wish you luck finding the right GC!