Some people argue that hiring a general contractor is waste of money that can be avoided. The argument is that the homeowner can just take leave from his place of work and oversee the construction of his new building. This is however easier said than done especially when it comes to hiring subcontractors. You need someone who has worked various subcontractors like the electricians and plumbers before. The right person for this is definitely a general contractor. However, you need to dig deep to find a good contractor for your upcoming project. This is because out of the very many such contractors you see around, only a handful of them are competent enough to do quality work. Before hiring any general contractors Saratoga Springs NY dwellers will find the following tips very useful.
Before you start interviewing various contractors, it would be important to ask your friends and relatives for referrals. Some of them might have worked with such a contractor before and will be able to comment on the quality of their workmanship. This way, you will also be able to come up with a list of contractors with very good track record.
It is a legal requirement that all contractors regardless of their areas of specialization be licensed before they can start to practice. This is one way that the authority uses to weed out unscrupulous contractors. You must not conduct business with any contractor who is not licensed or one whose license has expired.
Insurance cover is another thing that you have to pay very close attention to. Your general contractor must have both personal injury cover as well as liability cover. These two cover will always ensure that you are safe in case of any accident or incident. Otherwise, you will have to cater for medical expenses for the injured construction workers as well as pay for any damages that may result.
Unless you are very rich, you will also want to compare service fee from various contractors. This is not to say that you should look for the cheapest contractor you can find. In fact, cheap is not always the best. It is therefore upon you to look for a contractor who can guarantee you quality services at competitive rates.
Another thing that must not escape your attention is the experience of the contractor. Find out how long he has been in this practice. If it is more than five years, this is always a sign of stability and reliability.
Once you find a good contractor, it does not stop there. You must also tie him down with a contract. This will ensure that each of the parties involved keep their promise. If a contractor is not willing to sign a contract, this should be a red flag that he is not a reputable one.
With all the above tips in mind, you should be able to find a good contractor with ease. It is however important that you start the search early enough. This will afford you ample time to go through all the possible options.
Before you start interviewing various contractors, it would be important to ask your friends and relatives for referrals. Some of them might have worked with such a contractor before and will be able to comment on the quality of their workmanship. This way, you will also be able to come up with a list of contractors with very good track record.
It is a legal requirement that all contractors regardless of their areas of specialization be licensed before they can start to practice. This is one way that the authority uses to weed out unscrupulous contractors. You must not conduct business with any contractor who is not licensed or one whose license has expired.
Insurance cover is another thing that you have to pay very close attention to. Your general contractor must have both personal injury cover as well as liability cover. These two cover will always ensure that you are safe in case of any accident or incident. Otherwise, you will have to cater for medical expenses for the injured construction workers as well as pay for any damages that may result.
Unless you are very rich, you will also want to compare service fee from various contractors. This is not to say that you should look for the cheapest contractor you can find. In fact, cheap is not always the best. It is therefore upon you to look for a contractor who can guarantee you quality services at competitive rates.
Another thing that must not escape your attention is the experience of the contractor. Find out how long he has been in this practice. If it is more than five years, this is always a sign of stability and reliability.
Once you find a good contractor, it does not stop there. You must also tie him down with a contract. This will ensure that each of the parties involved keep their promise. If a contractor is not willing to sign a contract, this should be a red flag that he is not a reputable one.
With all the above tips in mind, you should be able to find a good contractor with ease. It is however important that you start the search early enough. This will afford you ample time to go through all the possible options.
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