When you are undertaking a major project like building a new house or remodeling an old one, there may be many parts to the project that need someone to oversee them. Working with a general contractor or project manager offers you the benefits of their knowledge and experience as they handle each part of the project.
General Contractors
General contractors typically have a crew that works directly for them on construction projects, and they will handle the majority of the work. Some specialty trades require licensed providers that the contractor's crew doesn't have, but the contractor will arrange to have those services come and do what they need to when the building is ready.
The timing of each subcontractor coming to provide services is often critical to other work going on in the house or structure. If the plumber comes too late, a wall they need access to may no longer be open, or plumbing that is not installed may mean the tile crew has to wait to do the work they are responsible for.
The organization and management of each phase of the project are vital, and a good general contractor will be able to ensure each portion of the job is completed on time and in the correct order. If a subcontractor is delayed, the general contractor will often hire someone available when they need them, and keeping the timeline on track is the best way to avoid these kinds of delays.
If you are on a tight budget, cost overruns can be a huge issue, but your contractor will work to keep the project on budget by managing the construction work, materials and eliminating the need to redo work that has already been finished. If there are changes in the cost of the project, the contractor you are working with will come to you and discuss the changes and the cost difference to see if you can handle the change or work with you to find a way to reduce a cost somewhere else to ensure the budget stays on track.
Inspections And Permits
Anytime you undertake construction on an existing home or are building something new, you must have permits in place that allow you to do the work. If you do not have the correct permits, you could be facing some fines and legal issues with the municipality.
Your general contractor can arrange the proper permits for you and will attend all the inspections for all the trades completing work on the project. The contractor will also check up on the job as things are being done so they correct anything needed before the work is complete and the cost to fix it rises.
