Ways to Find A General Contractor, Tips and Resources

Are You Looking for A General Contractor?

Whether you have a simple project for a backyard shed, or you have a major home remodeling or repair project such as a roof replacement, driveway replacement or repaving, finding a dependable, reputable, and efficient general contractor who has he tools, equipment, and resources necessary to complete your project on time with the highest quality workmanship can be challenging.

One of the biggest challenges you face when you want to find a general contractor is the sheer volume of general contracting companies that are available for you to choose from.

General contractors and the companies in the industry range from a one man operation with a work truck, to mid-size companies that have around 20 employees, single companies that operate their contracting business nationally, and even national general contracting companies such as franchises.

HowTo Find A Reputable General Contractor

There are many ways to find a general contractor. Local newspapers, weekly regional papers, and your local yellow pages are all good choices.

The internet also offers an enormous selection of general contractors who advertise their contracting services online. The best way to find a reputable contractor online is enter what type of remodeling, rebuilding, or repair project you need to have completed, and then enter your location in the search box after the service you require.

For example, if you are located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and you need your roof repaired,simply enter “Philadelphia, PA roofer” or “roof repair Philadelphia PA”.

Be as specific as you can in your search with your location and your needed repair or building project. It may also be helpful to use terms such as “roofing free estimates” or “best prices on roof repairs” and again, do not forget to include your location.

Of all the resources you use to find a general contractor, an obvious and mostly overlooked search online would be your zip code in the search query.

For example, if you need a shed installed and your zip code is “17362”, you will save some time if you use the search term “shed installation 17362” in the search engine.

The more focused and narrow you can make your search, the faster your results will be and finding the perfect general contractor for your project will be a lot less stressful.

Tips For Finding A General Contractor

Once you have narrowed your general contractor search down to a few choices, the next step is to call them and schedule a time for an estimate.

Here are some very important things to remember when you speak with the contractor’s office on the phone:

1)  When you have the representative on the phone, take note as to how friendly they are and how knowledgeable they seem. If they are easily contacted, give you the information you need, and answer your questions in a professional and courteous manner, you are on the right track. Remember that if they seem less than polite, cannot answer your questions in a timely and professional manner, or they seem distant to you as a new customer, you may want to scratch them from the list and go to your next choice.

2) Be as specific as you possibly can about your project or repair. Situations vary greatly and yout explanation may have an effect on the final cost of the project.

For example, If you want a shed installed in the front of your yard and you fail to mention that it is at the very top of a steep sloped hill right next to a tree, the cost to do such a project will vary greatly from a simple shed install in a flat, even, and well-kept yard.

Take some notes, be as specific as possible about the work you want completed, your time frame, and what you can afford to spend. All of these factors will greatly accelerate the process and leave fewer surprises when it comes time to get the estimate.

3) Get references! This cannot be stressed enough! When making your final choice of a contractor, always ask them for references from previous customers, and if at all possible, ask to see a portfolio of completed projects. If the general contractor you are working with does not have these basic resources, this is a red flag and required second thought on your part in choosing them for the job. You should probably run for the exit.

4) Credentials! Always ask to see the contractor’s license and insurance policies. Any reputable contractor, even if he is a one man operation, will certainly be licensed with the state and will have a liability insurance policy should anything go wrong with the project or your personal property.

Finally, do not rush the selection process! Choosing a reputable general contractor is no small task and taking the time in selecting the proper one for your project should not be rushed.

Use all of the tips in this article, and you are well on your way to finding the best general contractor for your home improvement, repair, or construction project.