How Do I Choose a General Contractor?

The process that precedes breaking ground on a construction dream can be a winding path. There is not one absolute, concrete order of operations to be followed for successful consummation. Some steps along the way are virtually universal, however, which mean they must be addressed in nearly every construction project. This agenda is comprised of four broad umbrellas: funding, design, permitting, and building. Again, it is imperative to underscore that the specific sequence may be quite divergent in two similar projects, while the outcome may ultimately be strikingly analogous. We’ll offer detailed, practical examinations into each of these primary decision points. Furthermore, we will clearly illustrate how to leverage every category by offering specific, proven actions–actions that will greatly increase the likelihood of realizing your construction dream.

Cornerstones

As we move further into these examinations we’ll discuss the broad umbrellas: funding, design, permitting, and building as cornerstones. A cornerstone may be the single most significant foundational component of a building. It is the first stone set in a masonry foundation, at an intersection, which then serves as a reference for every single stone to follow. The cornerstone determines the course of an entire building. That is the magnitude we place on each of these decision areas. It cannot be understated. If one of the four cornerstones is neglected in a construction project, it can undermine every subsequent step moving forward.

Let’s Start with Building

We might be slightly biased, considering this is our area of expertise. So, let’s begin with what we know best. This is not to create a hierarchical order of significance of the cornerstones that comprise a construction project, but rather to simply start with our own personal experience. We’ll rely heavily on industry expertise as we explore all facets of construction, providing first-hand information from thought leaders in their respective fields and trades.

If you are ready to realize your construction dream, and you understand what a general contractor is, and you’re also well-acquainted with why a general contractor is, you may be wondering how to choose the right general contractor for you and your project. This is a decision that should not be rushed or made lightly.

“There Has Never Been a Better Time in the History of the World…”

I had a professor in college who greeted us one morning with those words. He exclaimed, “There has never been a better time in the history of the world to be great at what you do. This also means, then, that there has never been a worse time in the history of the world to be bad at what you do.” He was setting out on a discourse of the electronic social world, specifically the interconnectedness of a global community of consumers and customers. The means of communication to access and share consumer experiences have never been more easily-accessible. Forums abound for potential customers to instantly research and develop educated opinions, based upon other customer’s encounters, about whom they will or will not spend their hard-earned money with. Some services that offer business reviews include, but are certainly not limited to, Yelp, Google Business, Bing Business, and Facebook.

In a digital age, there simply is no excuse to enter into an exchange as an uneducated consumer. Ignorance is anything but bliss in these interactions. Ignorance, born of laziness, can have terrible consequences in a decision as consequential as choosing a general contractor.

So, Rely Heavily on Reviews

The search for a general contractor typically takes shape one of two ways. The first avenue comes as a word-of-mouth referral from family, a friend, or a colleague. The second model begins as a search engine request such as: local general contractor. However things begin at the outset, the critical subsequent step is a thorough vetting process. It is indispensable to investigate and scrutinize potential general contractors. Meticulousness at this phase of a project can translate into greatly diminished project costs and significantly increase the likelihood of satisfaction and an actual realization of your dream. Don’t set yourself up for failure before you even get started.

Consumer-Protection Reviews

It may seem obvious to confirm the licensure of a contractor, but some customers have endured severe consequences because they only thought they were working with a licensed contractor. As we have discussed, there is little, if any, legal recourse for customers who encounter problems while working with unlicensed contractors. So, I strongly suggest the first review be via the local contractors board. The Nevada State Contractors Board offers a license search feature, which allows for a convenient search of licensed contractors in the state of Nevada. Searches may be conducted using license number, business name, Nevada business ID, or a search of the name of the principal and/or qualified employee(s). A search of Tuttle Built, Inc. produced the following results:

There are two results under our company name because we carry two licenses with the Nevada State Contractors Board. Closer inspection of the “B” license, which permits us to perform work as a licensed general contractor, reveals;

The most substantial information contained in this review includes:

• License Monetary Limit–legal limit a contractor may bid on a project
• License Status
• License Classification
• Principal and Qualified Individuals–persons who can legally represent the business
• Bond Status
• Disciplinary Actions

This review should be the starting place rather than the finish line–unless, however, you discover glaring discrepancies between how a contractor self-represents and the facts provided by the licensing agency. In such a circumstance, we would strongly advise that you end your relationship with that prospective contractor and seek trustworthy construction partners instead. Additional context, particularly of any disciplinary actions that may have occurred, may be gleaned from the Better Business Bureau, although the BBB does not have listings for every business.

Customer Reviews

Rely on a community of your peers. Investigate prospective contractors online to find what other customers have to say about them. People love to share their experiences. There is an exceedingly good chance that if other customers have had encounters with your prospect, you will be able to find it and read about it. Within reason, trust other people’s experiences–particularly if you are able to identify a patter of behavior that a contractor exhibits. Customer reviews speak volumes and should carry tremendous weight. We’d be remiss to ignore a glaring truth about many contractors (and the construction industry as a whole): they lag far behind in adopting and implementing new technologies. This includes creating and maintaining an online presence. As such, it may be more difficult to access reviews on certain contractors. In many cases this may simply be a result of benign neglect or laziness, rather than deliberate deceitfulness.

Testimonials and Visits

In addition to gathering information on your prospective contractor via the internet, ask for a minimum of three references from previous clients and their contact information. A contractor should be more than willing to open a dialogue between potential clients and past clients. In particular, request that visits and viewings of previous work be arranged. These visits will allow an opportunity to assess the quality of work and craftsmanship that the contractor offers. Also, it will afford a chance to see if the contractor displays proficiency in areas that your project will demand. Any unwillingness to facilitate these requests should be considered a glaring red flag. A substantial dynamic in contracting consists of monitoring client satisfaction and nurturing relationships long after the job is completed. A contractor who is either evasive, reluctant, or both, to connect you with past clients should be removed from consideration.

Professional References

The measure of a general contractor is no more than the sum of the parts they bring to a project. Each of these parts is really a puzzle piece in the picture that will ultimately become either a true representation of your construction dream, or something that bares little resemblance to it at all. Subcontractors are tasked with bringing the individual puzzle pieces to the table and the general contractor helps to assemble them into a cohesive vision. Ask your prospective contractors about their professional partnerships, and which of those strategic relationships with subcontractors they will be utilizing on your job. The subcontractors employed says so much about the quality of the general contractor.

This is a Good Start

Choosing a contractor may seem like a scary, overwhelming nightmare. It shouldn’t be. We’re here to change that. Again, we’ve provided tangible, substantial methods to leverage this scary process into a cornerstone of strength for your construction dream. The building cornerstone is crucial because a general contractor is ultimately responsible for taking your money, sometimes a great deal of it, and building your dream into reality. We’ll continue this examination with a list of questions to ask potential general contractors. These questions will assist in discovering the extent to which your values and expectations align. We’ll follow that investigation with a summary of some common bid formats and suggestions for assessing bids from multiple contractors. Please contribute below with any suggestions, questions, or comments. And if you are ready to explore your own construction dream, we’d love the opportunity to earn your trust by showing you a better way to build. Thank you.