A general contractor is responsible for providing all of the material, labor, equipment (such as engineering vehicles and tools), and services necessary for the construction of a project. A general contractor often hires specialized subcontractors to perform all or portions of the construction work but will manage the project from beginning to end. Construction is a big word and also requires significant work. It involves several activities that are impossible to handle by a single person or party. It requires several entities from different sectors to have expertise in different segments. All these parties come together to build a project on time and within budget. A few essential roles of a general contractor are discussed in brief in this blog.
The following are some of the advantages of hiring a general contractor…
Save Money and Time
Home improvement projects can be costly and time-consuming affairs. You are able to review estimates from various professionals and choose more economical materials and upgrades depending on the scope of the project. However, you won’t have as much room to negotiate when it comes to the availability of that labor and those materials. A general contractor takes over the responsibility of scheduling the project so that materials are procured and tasks are completed as close to the given timeline as possible. Not only can general contractors get lower bids than individual building owners, but they can buy material in bulk at a discounted rate. A general contractor will oversee the quality of your project which will increase your property value.
A Single Contact to Manage Your Project
If you bypass the general contractor and hire multiple subcontractors yourself, you will have to keep track of numerous contracts. You likely have other work and responsibilities to uphold in addition to any improvement projects you have started. Particularly if you are working on a complex, multi-stage project, it is always better to leave the project management duties to a professional. You will have a relationship with your contractor and feel comfortable asking questions or concerns throughout the process. You will also get a heads-up on problems that could arise or if the contractor sees areas where you can cut costs.
Take Advantage of Established Working Partnerships
Your general contractor is your personal advocate. A general contractor with years of experience will have likely formed strong working partnerships with a variety of subcontractors and suppliers. That’s very good news for you. It means that those subcontractors and suppliers are reliable, as the general contractor has come to know and trust them based on their having many good experiences with them in the past. In fact, general contractors spend lots of dollars annually to work with their select group of subcontractors to ensure their clients are satisfied with their work. Subcontractors are paid by the general contractor. If you directly hire subcontractors that you have never worked with, the service you receive may be less than satisfactory.
Your General Contractor Must Be Licensed
Partnering with a general contractor will give you a sense of security since they must follow state rules and regulations and carry liability and workers’ compensation insurance. Both of those will protect them and you if someone is injured on your property. Accidents on the job site can harm workers and cause damage to your home, so you will want to ensure that everyone and everything under your roof is protected by worker’s compensation and liability insurance. Additionally, an experienced general contractor knows how to comply with all local codes and will therefore ensure that the subcontractors comply with them as well.
Reduced Stress and Hassle
Another benefit offered when a general contractor is hired is that the owner of the building does not have to be bothered with the overall construction process. It is the commercial contractor who is responsible to manage the execution of the construction project. The general contractor is responsible for your happiness and satisfaction.
Services Based on the Needs of the Project
With a general contractor, there is no type of one-size-fits-all solution. Instead, they will customize the services and solutions offered to ensure that the client’s vision is brought to life. All the client must do is provide information about the goals they have for the project. The contractor is then going to put everything into motion to ensure the project is completed to the client’s specifications. The result achieved is unique and something the property owner is going to be proud of.
Palmer Can Help With General and Mechanical Contracting
Are you looking for welders, pipe fitters, equipment maintenance, millwrights, or riggers? With over 50 years of experience and our true focus on customer satisfaction, Palmer Tool takes pride in providing quality work on-time and on-budget. We successfully perform jobs ranging from large project work (bid pricing) to ongoing contract work (hourly T&M rates). Our company size is probably in your “Goldilocks Zone”, where we are big enough to have the resources required to complete your job, but small enough to stay focused on your critical project. Palmer Contractors has the knowledge, experience, and skills to complete nearly any mechanical project in the Southeast or Midwest.
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