What Does a General Contractor Do? A Complete Guide for Homeowners
Learn what does a general contractor do, including coordinating specialty contractors, creating construction schedules, managing trades, and preventing project delays.
There are many factors to consider when constructing or renovating a home, aside from just selecting designs and buying materials. These include having the right personnel, suppliers, budget and schedule. Managing all these can be overwhelming, thus many home owners engage a general contractor.
General Contractor Responsibilities
A general contractor is an individual who directs the construction activities on behalf of the property owner. His responsibility may include organizing labor and scheduling subcontractors, ordering construction materials, keeping control of the project budget, and overseeing the work compared to the approved plans.
When seeking to understand what does a general contractor do, it’s important to note that this individual usually acts as the central coordinator in the construction process. Rather than the property owner communicating with each of the contractors and workers on the project, the owner can work through one individual as the main point of contact for project issues.
The general contractor’s specific responsibilities are defined in the contract, and are affected by the size of the project and the prevailing laws of the area.
Five Important Duties of a General Contractor
1. Reviewing Project Plans
Architectural drawings and project specifications provide a general contractor with the information needed to determine the labor, materials, equipment, and time needed to complete a project.
Questions on the project information are referred to the architect, designer, or property owner for clarification.
2. Coordinating Construction Workers
Most construction projects require the effort of several specialty trade contractors. General contractors are responsible for coordinating the efforts of these specialists. If you're wondering what does a general contractor do, one of their key responsibilities is developing schedules and communicating the needs of different trades so that each team can complete its work before the next begins.
For example, plumbing and electrical installations generally need to be completed and inspected before walls are closed and finished. Proper coordination helps prevent delays, avoid unnecessary rework, and keep the construction project running smoothly.
3. Managing Costs and Materials
The reasons for the fluctuation of a construction budget are plentiful, ranging from the cost of materials to unexpected repairs, to requests for changes by the property owner. General Contractors are involved in the preparation of project estimates and help explain the reason for possible additional costs.
They may manage delivery of required materials, investigate supplier quotes, and verify ordered materials meet the project specifications.
Property owners are encouraged to request a written estimate prior to making changes and understand how changes will be approved and charged.
4. Monitoring Work Quality
A contractor monitors work in progress to verify it meets the terms and conditions of the contract. When issues are discovered, the contractor, in many cases, coordinates work to resolve the issues with the responsible subcontractor.
For instance, during a roof replacement, the contractor, in addition to monitoring the work, may schedule and/or arrange for inspections.
In some cases, third party, independent inspections may be required, based on the work, the circumstances, and/or the local building department.
5. Permits and Inspections
Some projects require a permit, inspection or approval by an authority prior to the activity can occur. Depending on the agreement, the contractor may arrange for the requirements and coordination with the authority.
Property owners should confirm the contractor will obtain required permits and maintain the pertinent documents.
When is Hiring a General Contractor Appropriate?
A project becomes complex due to a number of different factors. It may become difficult to schedule when a project involves many different subcontractors and materials. A project may also become too large when there are many structural changes.
A homeowner who wants to build a new house should hire a general contractor. A contractor can bring in all the right subcontractors at the right time and ensure all the different trades work together to finish the project.
A homeowner may want to hire a general contractor for a small project, such as repainting one room, if the project becomes too complicated and it is difficult to manage all the details.
Finding a Reputable General Contractor
Find out about a general contractor's past work and get references. Check the contractor's reputation and licenses and insurance. Ask the contractor for a detailed proposal about the work to be done.
Your contract should include details about payment, project timing, materials, responsibilities, procedures for handling additional work, and how often you'll receive project updates.
Don’t base your decision on price alone. Equally important when choosing a construction professional is their communication and experience as well as the clarity of their contract.
Conclusion
General contractors help the property owner coordinate the many details of a construction project. From reviewing construction documents to arranging for inspections to coordinating the various workers on the project and keeping an eye on the project budget, the general contractor is a key player in organizing the project for success.
In this blog post, we’ve explained what is generally expected of a general contractor. Hopefully, this has helped you determine whether or not working with a professional construction project manager is a good idea for your situation. Before your next construction or remodeling project, review qualifications, check references, and compare proposals in order to help bring peace of mind to what is typically an overwhelming process.
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Houseura
Houseura offers a professional construction service built on strong planning and expert execution. Every project follows strict quality standards to ensure safety, durability, and efficiency. From start to finish, the focus remains on delivering reliable structures that support long-term residential and commercial development goals.
