4 Tips to Choose a General Contractor for House Renovation

Renovating your house is a time-consuming and costly task. It can involve a range of subtasks like carpentry, woodwork, painting, re-flooring and wall moulding etc.

Therefore, you need someone certified, insured and experienced to perform such tasks. And that is where a general contractor in Chicago comes in.

They are well-versed in all these tasks and employ a range of professional carpenters, painters, plumbers, electricians, masons, etc.

All you have to do is inform them about how you want your home to look, and they will take care of the rest. But how can you trust a random contractor that you know nothing about?

That is why we prepared a list of four key points that can be considered while choosing a GC.

So, let’s take a look:

Know whom to talk to

Contractors are a part of the construction industry. Therefore, building inspectors and lumberyard owners are the best people to talk to.

They can suggest quality GCs who routinely meet code requirements and work professionally. You can also check out the National Association of Remodeling Industry to determine how many GCs work in your area.

Moreover, you can also talk to friends and family members who have recently got their home renovations done.

Give them a quick call.

Once you have accumulated a few names and numbers, it is now time to call each one of them and ask a list of questions mentioned below:

Do you take up mega projects like mine?
How many clients do you deal with at a time?
Can you show me visuals of your previous work?
How do you ensure harmony and coordination amongst masons, carpenters, painters etc.?
How long do you take to complete the renovation on average?

It would be best to proceed only if you get positive answers.

Meet them and discuss the blueprint

Now that you have narrowed down the GC list, pick a few best ones and invite them for a final meeting.

Here you can ask them to bring their documentation, testimonials and breakdown of profit margin, material cost and labor etc.

Also, be ready with your questions on pricing, payment and quality of material the GC will use.

Finally, upon their arrival, wear your observation lens and see how they approach your questions. Once you are satisfied, move on to the final step.

Discuss the payment schedule and prepare the contract

In the final step, you will discuss the payment strategy. For example, the GC will likely charge 10% at the time of contract signing, 25% throughout the project duration and the remaining at the back end when everything gets completed.

You will also want them to tell you about the start and finish date of the project. The last thing you want is for your project to be dragged unnecessarily due to poor management of workforce and material.

Once everything is agreed upon, sign the contract and ask them to start the work.

Final Thoughts

A genuine general contractor will always showcase their past work and client base. They will be happy to discuss the blueprint of your project.

So, get started with your GC research and contact them for a no-obligation quote.