When it comes to construction jobs, whether small or large, it’s important that one hires a good general building contractor to oversee the project. Choosing a building contractor that isn’t efficient or able to imagine the end result of the project you’re hiring them for could determine the success or failure of the job you’ve asked them to do.

The responsibility of a general building contractor is to provide a quote for the project with the owner requesting the work.Then, the contractor handles all the responsibilities of assembling a team that can produce an end result within the time frame and price agreed upon.  It’s quite possibly the biggest decision to make in the entire process, so how do you find one?

Recommendations

Ask friends, family, and colleagues if they have any recommendations. Word of mouth is an underestimated marketing tool and we’re likely to trust the judgment of those we’re closest to. Chances are if your best friend, cousin, or supervisor hired a general building contractor and were happy with their work, they’ll be more than willing to pass along their contact information for your benefit.

Brief Interviews

Once a small list of general building contractors has been made and narrowed down, reach out to each one with a few questions. Their ability to answer any questions you may have will determine their availability and reliability while giving you a gut feeling before a contract has been signed.

A few questions to ask are:

  • Do they typically take projects of the size and nature you’re requesting?
  • Can they provide a list of previous clients?
  • Do they have a portfolio of before and after pictures of spaces completed?
  • Typically how many projects do they take on at once?
  • How long have they been working with their subcontractors or team?

Choosing a Good General Building Contractor

Once the research has been completed and you’ve decided which general building contractor to hire for the job, draft up a contract with specific details. The paperwork should include the bid you’ve both agreed upon for the work you’ve requested and a payment plan should be implemented. It’s not uncommon to pay a partial amount in the beginning of the project, another partial amount halfway once a construction milestone has been reached, then the remaining balance paid out upon completion.

 

If you’re in the Houston area, the task of finding a good general building contractor has never been easier. Contact the SMB Group, LLC for all of your construction needs.