Types of Contractors
A general contractor is the main contractor you have to hire for a major renovation project. The general contractor though, has other subcontractors that he oversees for the renovation of your home. The repair and maintenance contractors you need are very different from the general contractor.
Typically the General Contractor does not provide the labor to build the house. The laborers come from the subcontractors or the trades. This may include carpenters for roughens, excavators, flooring, painting, concrete sub, plumber, electrician, roofer, and the finish carpenter. The general contractor hires the subcontractors and holds their contracts. Holding the contract means that they are working for him, they are under contract to him and he pays them directly. When you hire a general contractor you only have a contract with him not all the subs. The general contractor marks up the subcontractor's fee a certain percentage of the construction amount.
For this fee the contractor does all the managing and scheduling of the subs. He also pays, provides supervision of the construction, provides dumpsters, port-a-john, insurance and other miscellaneous things involved in the construction project. The contractors make money by charging for labor and by marking up the materials. The general contractor is referred to the generalist and the subs are the specialist. Whenever you need just a specific thing fixed in your home you would always hire a specialist. A specialist would be for an example a plumber or electrician. When hiring someone for maintenance task some people just hire a guy with a magnet advertising on the side of his truck but in reality he is not licensed at all. This could be people like gutter cleaners, painters or lawncare. Usually using these types do work out but you must be careful because you do not have the legal protection as with using a licensed contractor. It's just better to use common sense and keep yourself protected by going with someone who is licensed.
It's usually easy to tell the unlicensed contractors or scam artist or possibly someone who is just trying to get in your home. Use wisdom and do your homework to avoid the following pitfalls.
1. Unlicensed contractors often go door-to-door claiming they "just finished a job down the street and we're in the neighborhood and noticed your roof needs patching."
2. They may rush you and twist their words stating, "If you act now, you'll get a special price."
3. Unlicensed contractors either neglect to pull construction permits or they ask you to do it for them. If you do this, you are assuming liability for the project as well as the contractor's mistakes.
4. Some states require contractors to list their license numbers on their vehicles, their estimates and their advertising. If a contractor has not done that, this is usually a bad sign.
5. If you see a license number in an ad, and it has a different number of letters, numerals and digits than all the other licenses, this probably means it is a bogus license number.
6. Be wary if a contractor provides only a PO box or cell number. That may mean he does not have credibility in the community and could skip town when people start to complain.
7. Unlicensed contractors often ask for a lot of money up front if not the whole amount. Consider this a red flag and try not to pay any money in advance. If you must, keep the amount to a minimum.
|
All About Kitchen Remodeling Is the flooring in your kitchen stained and cracked? Are the countertops marred with burns and ...
read more
Basic Kitchen Plans The efficient u-shape plan is versatile and usually puts one's workstation on each of three walls. The ...
read more
Being Comfortable With Your Kitchen Renovation Being realistic with your budget is the first rule of renovation. In renovation, budget ...
read more
Ceramic Tile Kitchen Countertops Ceramic tiles for kitchen countertops have become a must have in home buyers' kitchens. Whether you ...
read more
Considering New Kitchen Cabinets The style you select for your new kitchen cabinets depends totally on you. What feel do ...
read more
Creating Mosaic Countertops Creating a real tile mosaic on almost any surface top is easy. The first step would be ...
read more
Does Your House Need a Kitchen Remodel? Is it time to upgrade your house with a kitchen remodel? While professionals ...
read more
Finding A Reliable Contractor Home repair, kitchen renovation and improvement is a process you may not be familiar with until ...
read more
How to Design a Kitchen Remodel The design of a kitchen remodel is, for many people, the most satisfying and ...
read more
Increase the Value of Your Home with a Kitchen Remodel While many home owners decide to remodel their kitchens out ...
read more
Kitchen Remodeling Ideas and Floors It is easy to be excited when shopping for kitchen flooring after we have gone ...
read more
Kitchens and Restoration in Vintage Homes Preservation of old homes is a favorite conversation of owners of vintage homes but ...
read more
Know Your Kitchen Contractors Credentials Checking out kitchen contractors doesn't have to be a dreaded job when considering the investment ...
read more
Outdoor Kitchen Ideas Outdoor kitchens are becoming all the rage these days making family barbecues easier than ever! Cooking on ...
read more
Remodeling Your Kitchen Remodeling your kitchen can be either a massive, grueling undertaking, or a relatively pleasant experience, with only ...
read more
Remodeling Your Kitchen? Why You Should Also Change Your Decor Have you recently decided to replace your kitchen cabinets, retile ...
read more
Secrets of a Painless Kitchen Remodel You've had it. Your kitchen floor is old and stained, your cupboards are so ...
read more
Simple Kitchen Ideas For Inside or Outdoor Kitchens You don't have to be stuck making meals in a kitchen that's ...
read more
Stone Options in Countertops The look is rich, the feel is luxurious and the material is durable. Such is the ...
read more
The Best Cabinets for Your Kitchen Upgrading the cabinets in your kitchen can improve the looks of it dramatically. If ...
read more
Things to Consider When Pondering a Home Addition When taking the plunge to do a kitchen remodel that includes a ...
read more
Today's Kitchens Contemporary kitchens are full of energy-efficient appliances and state-of-the-art flooring and countertops. With interest in gourmet cooking high, ...
read more
Types of Contractors A general contractor is the main contractor you have to hire for a major renovation project. The ...
read more
Update Your Kitchen Your kitchen is where you and your family spend a great deal of time. Your kitchen is ...
read more
Varieties of Kitchen Sinks Kitchen sinks are definitely the most important component found in kitchens anywhere in the world. The ...
read more
Who to Hire for Your Kitchen Remodel You've decided at last to commit to that long-delayed kitchen remodel. As you ...
read more
|
|
|
Disclaimer:
The Publisher has strived to be as accurate and complete as possible in
the creation of this website, notwithstanding the fact that he does not
warrant or represent at any time that the contents within are accurate
due to the rapidly changing nature of the Internet.
This site
is a common sense guide to Types of Contractors. In practical advice websites,
like anything else in life, there are no guarantees of income made.
Readers are cautioned to reply on their own judgment about their
individual circumstances to act accordingly.
This site
is not intended for use as a source of legal, business, accounting or
financial advice. All readers are advised to seek services of competent
professionals in legal, business, accounting, and finance field.
Any
perceived slights of specific people or organizations are unintentional.
|