Hiring a General Contractor vs. Managing the Project Yourself

Construction activities tend to divide society: Some people outsource every little detail to third parties, while others prefer to do everything themselves. Of course, both approaches can have great advantages and clear disadvantages, so it is important to weigh which is the right choice for you. In this article, we will help you decide whether you need a general contractor or whether you should manage the home improvement project yourself.

The Role and Responsibilities of A General Contractor

General contractors (even if you are the general contractor) perform one of the most important functions in the construction industry: they bring together the activities of the different contracting trades for a particular construction project. However, they also perform a number of other functions:

• Communicating key project details to the client
• Awards the contract to sub-contractors for the work to be carried out
• Is responsible for the quality of the work (and for the work of the subcontractors, as if they had carried it out themselves)
• Takes responsibility for meeting the project deadlines
• Takes care of the required permits and administration

Given the above, it is clear why the role of the general contractor is so important. But then, why would anyone take on this role themselves? The answer is simple: a general contractor does not work for free, so at first glance, it may seem like a significant portion of construction costs can be easily saved. In reality, however, it is not that simple.

The Benefits of a General Contractor

Who should hire a general contractor? If you are planning your first construction project, do not have a good working knowledge of the construction field, or do not understand the most current rules and regulations, consider hiring a general contractor. A good general contractor will save you time and money – here’s how:

• A general contractor already has an established, experienced pool of subcontractors to cover all phases of your construction project. Anyone who has been on a construction site knows that this alone is worth a fortune, because as an outsider, it’s very difficult to find the right partners in the market.
• If you have one contractor doing the masonry and another doing the cladding or the electrical installation, you need a strong presence and professional experience to coordinate the tasks. Using a general contractor eliminates the risk of ending up with several workers pointing at each other over an unfinished job.
• A general contractor provides continuous on-site supervision, which is essential for high-quality work. This is the only way to ensure that the best materials are installed with the utmost professionalism. Even if you have the best of intentions, the other side may misunderstand you – and if you cannot be present at all times, you may only discover later that something did not go as you expected.

For smaller jobs and individual repairs, you can go it alone if you already have experience – but for a complete renovation or new home construction, you’re better off with a professional team. The team at Prospect 30 Eight is happy to help you with your building plans in Denver and the surrounding area – from planning to construction and obtaining the necessary permits.

Contact us for a free consultation and quote.