Hiring a Building Contractor or General Contractor

Your home is your most important investment. Whether it’s new construction, a home remodel, a home addition, a kitchen remodel, a bathroom remodel or other home improvement, you can help protect your investment by ensuring that your building contractor is reputable and will do a good job. Choosing the wrong building contractor can lead to increased costs, construction delays and even incomplete work.

The biggest step you can take to ensure that you’ll be happy in the long run is to do your homework.

• Ask to see the building contractor’s business license and certified building contractor’s license. If the builder can’t produce these, walk away and find another contractor.
• Is the builder listed at recognized agencies which measure both experience and quality of work, such as the Better Business Bureau? If not, why not?
• Ask for a list of completed projects, both recent and older. Visit the sites if possible, and talk to owners about their experience with the building contractor.
• Does the bid proposal you receive state all project costs, as well as a timeline for work to be started and a completion date? Are payment terms clearly stated? Are material types specified? What about the subcontractors? Are they reputable?
• Is the building contractor or general contractor a member of related professional organizations?
• Does the building contractor return phone calls on a timely basis?
• Is the building contractor telling you that permits aren’t needed? If so, get a different contractor. Building permits are usually required, and the subsequent inspections help ensure your safety.

Research will pay off in the long run! If building or remodeling in Orlando, FL and the Central Florida area, contact us. We’ll be happy to answer your questions and work with you!

Read more about getting a building permit.