Appointing a General Contractor

A general contractor, also known as building contractor, plays a central role in the construction process of your building. Because you are throwing your heart, soul, and a lot of money into your building project, it is important that you need to know that the contractor you chose is a professional and that you can trust them.

References

Ask the contractor if you can have a list of previous client names and contact details. When you contact them, ask if you can look at their sites and find out if they were satisfied with the contractor’s work ethic and performance.

Make sure that the contractor is registered with professional organizations like CIBD and ask if they can provide you with proof that they have all the necessary insurance.

Get at least 4 quotes

Get enough quotes so you can make a calculated decision. Provide the contractor with your building plans and enough information about your needs and budget so they can give you a detailed quote. Ask them to specify the cost of materials and labor. Everything not included in the contractor’s quote, you will have to pay and install yourself.

Draw up a contract

Get a standard contract from the Master Builders’ Association and make sure that everything you and the contractor agreed upon is included in the contract. Make sure that all the terms of your agreement are also included like the start and completion dates, the contractor’s name, ID, and address as well as your name, ID, and the site’s address.

Conclusion

Make sure that you get along with the contractor and that you feel comfortable with them. It is also important that they feel comfortable working with you. Building projects can be stressful, but effective communication between you and the contractor can help to negate stress and make the project a pleasant one.