3 Tips for Choosing the Right General Contractor
Choosing the right general contractor is hands down the most important decision you will make during your project. It is also the first. That is why getting it right is so crucial. Here are three tips for hiring the right general contractor for your project:
1) Look for longtime “hyper-local” experience
Do you want a builder with years of experience? Absolutely. But local experience is even more important and often overlooked. Having an experienced contractor who has built homes and done remodels or repairs on houses with your specific conditions is key. In fact, you want a “hyper-local” contractor who has built and worked with houses in your neighborhood. Here’s why.
Our area, the Monterey Peninsula in California, is known for its diverse microclimates. For example, when building a house in the coastal seaside town of Pacific Grove, a hyper-local contractor will know the neighborhoods within the town like the back of his hand. He will know that historically, Pacific Grove had seven creeks running through the town. Despite the fact that these creeks are now largely unseen since the town has been built, a builder familiar with the area will know how the creeks may affect your home and will choose materials accordingly. Moisture and mildew can still wreak havoc on a home years later. A hyper-local contractor will know the unique risk factors in your area and add touches that big regional contractors might miss.
Find someone familiar with the unique area where your house is located. Is your contractor familiar with the soil types or natural springs in your neighborhood? Do they understand the impact of the root systems from the specific trees growing around your home?
This knowledge helps to avoid costly repairs over time and keeps the value of your home intact. Contractors who aren’t familiar with your neighborhood may stick with the bare minimum required for the job leading to costly repairs down the road.
2) Look for the heart of a teacher
The best contractors will teach you more about your house than you knew before you met them. Period. Looking for a contractor who has the heart of a teacher, someone who is willing to take the time to explain why they would select certain materials, make certain adjustments to design, or hire particular subcontractors is essential.
A lot of contractors today are smooth salespeople. But how many of them are willing to take the time to educate you about what is going on behind the walls in your space? Explaining what is behind a beautiful finished product helps you as the customer remain in the driver’s seat of your project. It also helps you learn how to care for your home for years to come.
3) Look for a second-generation builder
Is it essential to hire a contractor who comes from a family of builders? No. But it’s an awesome sign that the person you hired eats, sleeps, and breathes construction. It’s also a great sign that they have a sterling reputation in your area and literally generations of support behind them. They have a passion for building that you just don’t see when comparing them to other contractors in your area.
Like the home they will build you, second-generation general contractors have solid support to lean on. They have relationships with materials suppliers and subcontractors in your community that are decades old which translates to efficiency, smoother communication during the build, and potential savings for you as the consumer.
There are many important factors to hiring a great general contractor, but these three tips will get you started and give you a solid foundation for choosing the right general contractor for your next project.
