When you build your dream home, one of the most important members of your construction team is your licensed general contractor. They will direct day-to-day operations, ensure quality control and manage deadlines at the building site. This is the person who brings together all of the hard work of your engineers, architects, and interior designers.
Of course, the bigger the construction project, the more complex the general contractor’s role will be. Before you hire a general contractor, you should know what it is that they do, and what you should expect.
General contractors work within the construction industry on projects that range from small and basic to extraordinary and highly complex. Top contractors, like Allied Remodeling Contractors, who work on high-end custom homes, can use their years of experience to create amazing spaces. For example, movie-theatre-like home cinemas, spectacular infinity edge pools, and dressing rooms that look like they belong in a Hollywood movie set. They can build highly specific dedicated rooms, such as in-home saunas, game rooms, entertainment rooms, bars, additional bathrooms, and home gyms (just to name a few).
When Do You Need to Hire a Licensed General Contractor?
The state of Utah, like most states, does require that a general contractor be licensed. In order to be licensed in the state of Utah, a general contractor must finish a state-approved program. This means they must meet a certain level of experience and pass the Business Law Exam and Trade Exam. Legally, general contractors must also maintain general liability insurance.
The general contractor is hired directly by the homeowner to be the person (firm or team) to oversee the home construction. As the project manager, they will coordinate and manage all subcontractors and vendors. They are the hub of communication for everyone who is involved in the building project. In almost all cases, a contractor has to meet the requirements of a licensing board. This is to ensure their work meets certain state standards.
While having years of experience means that a contractor may have seen some elements many times over, ultimately, nothing is ever cookie-cutter. With a custom home, every single detail can be tailored. Much of a contractor’s work is considered spec, in other words, in terms of size, systems, or placement, it hasn’t been done in that exact way before. Ultimately, no matter the specifics, the general contractor is the person responsible for building your house from beginning to end.
The very best time to hire a general contractor is before you begin your new home construction. Pre-construction services are important to ensure that your home building project runs smoothly, stays on budget, and finishes on time.
What Does a General Contractor Do?
Your general contractor will be able to help you better understand your budget choices. If a specific element, such as a pool is going to break the bank, you want to know this upfront. This will give you a chance to decide if you really want the pool or if you’d rather have a larger budget to allow for the kitchen or bathroom.
Allied Remodeling Contractors recommend pre-construction services as well as pre-construction contracts to help keep you grounded while you plan your dream home. Another reason to hire a general contractor early in the process is that they have valuable insights that can help you see where any potential issues may arise. They will also address how you might be able to overcome them. They will also be able to help you with licensing and permits.
What Should You Look for?
When you hire a general contractor, you need to do your homework. You should consider your potential contractor’s portfolio. It is also important to consider where they have worked in the past. This is because it is very different to work in New York than it is, perhaps, in Los Angeles. It is vital that your contractor understands local and state codes and regulations that will affect your home-building project.
Make sure that you are clear in your expectations from the beginning. It is a good idea to ask about things such as the contractor’s billing structure. You should be comfortable with how often you will see invoices and how involved you will be with reviewing costs. You will want to know about the contractor’s organizational structure so you can feel comfortable with their ability to handle all of the different entities involved with building your home. This includes the many vendors and subcontractors. With more large-scale projects, this becomes even more crucial because they may be managing the scheduling of several overseas shipments, dozens of vendors from different companies, and subcontractors for different aspects of the build.
High-quality, high-value craftsmanship does not come cheap. Most contractors are able to install kitchen cabinets, but when you work with a team like Allied Remodeling Contractors, you get much more! This is because they take care of all of the small details. They will assure that your outlets are in the correct place and that the lighting is the correct color to give the room a perfect ambiance. An experienced general contractor who has worked on various high-end homes will have a better overall base of knowledge. This comes in handy should they need to deal with an unexpected problem during the process.
Is a Contractor the Same as a Subcontractor?
A general contractor typically enters into a contract with the homeowner and is then responsible for the finished product and the pieces that come together to make it. Subcontractors are then employed (or contracted) by the general contractor for specific jobs, such as installing the pool, framing, or concrete work. A key advantage to this arrangement is that experienced contractors have built relationships with specialists over the years. Because of this, they will be able to use the best professionals available to work on your home. The general contractor is also responsible for the quality and efficiency of the subcontractors hired for a specific project.
There are the general contractors who oversee a project and then there are several other types of contractors that are often involved in homebuilding. These types are drywallers, painters, plumbers, electricians, finish carpenters, and heating and ductwork.
Then there are many types of specialty contractors. Those include everything from roofers to pool builders to cabinetmakers. There are also specialty contractors who work specifically on home remodeling. For instance, bathroom remodelers and contractors who specialize in doing kitchen remodel or basement remodel.
Each of the subcontractors provides professional and skilled services in the building of your home. However, it is the general contractor who will coordinate all of the subcontractors and ultimately be responsible for the completion of your new home.
Bonded Contractors
When a bonded contractor does work, if they do not complete it or do so improperly, the bond will cover this. This will ensure the problem is rectified and the work is completed. Bonds are more common when working on a small project, such as a plumber working on the installation of a waterline.
By nature, custom homes are designed builds that make bonded work very cost-prohibitive. Custom homes normally involve cost-plus contracts. This means that the homeowner pays for the costs that the contractor incurs plus as opposed to a fixed price upfront. This is because there is not always a clear scope of the finished work when the project begins.
Work with the Best Licensed General Contractor in Lehi, Utah
Allied Remodeling Contractors will manage your budget. We will supply you with reasonable bids when choosing a subcontractor and discuss your budget each time an invoice is issued. You can always count on us to keep you in the loop and always look out for your best interest. So, if you’re looking for a licensed general contractor near Utah County, UT. contact Allied Remodeling Contractors today!