What Does a General Contractor Do?

A general contractor is someone who is able to take on contracts to build or alter structures. A general contractor may complete some or all of the work himself or herself or will outsource the work to various specialty subcontractors, such as electricians or plumbers. He or she is ultimately responsible for the outcome of the project.

A good general contractor will give you an all-inclusive bid for your project upfront, which includes the general contractor’s fees, the cost of all materials, as well as the cost to hire any subcontractors. They should also be able to provide you with a general timeline for when you can expect your project to be completed.

What to Expect from Scott McKee Construction

Every general contractor does things a little bit differently, but here’s what you can expect when you hire Scott McKee Construction as your general contractor. We start by meeting with you to discuss your dreams and goals when it comes to your building or remodeling project. On certain types of projects, we can handle the design aspect, or we can work with the architect who will draw up your plans. Once a desired plan is reached, we will provide you with a quote for your project. Once approved, we enter into the building phase, where we coordinate and schedule all of the top craftsmen in their areas of expertise. We will also handle the process of applying for and obtaining all of the necessary permits for your building or remodeling project. We carefully oversee the work of our subcontractors to ensure that they are completing everything according to plan. Throughout the process, we are in communication with you, so you are well informed of the progress. In the end, it is our goal to deliver a product that exceeds your expectations.

Serving as Your Own General Contractor

You may have heard people talking about people serving as their own general contractors in order to save money on their home remodeling projects. This is something you certainly can do, though very few people actually should. When you take on the role of a general contractor yourself, you are responsible for dealing with the city to get all of your plans approved and the proper permits for your project. In addition, it will be on you to find, negotiate with, and manage all of the needed subcontractors, such as electricians, plumbers, roofers, drywallers, painters, etc. The average person doesn’t have these types of contacts. They also likely don’t have the expertise to make sure all these people are doing their jobs correctly. And then there’s the time aspect. Do you have a schedule that allows you to oversee a construction project during the day? When you hire a general contractor to oversee your project, they handle all of this. If a subcontractor does a subpar job, they will make sure it gets fixed. They will be there to meet with city inspectors to make sure everything passes inspection. Yes, you’ll pay for service like this, but most people will tell you it’s worth the cost to make sure your project is successfully completed in a reasonable timeframe.