Why hire a contractor if subcontractors do all the work?
One of the most important skills, if you have a really big project in mind like adding a room or a project that involves skills outside of your knowledge base, is turning to a professional that has that specialized and necessary skills. This is a good choice for you and family and your construction job..
Contractors manage every aspect of the job, including the hiring of subcontractors. Now you enter the realm of contractors and subcontractors. What’s the difference? Think of it like this. If you hire a general contractor, you don’t expect him or her to finish the job. You pay to use his or her knowledge of the industry and organizational skills to bring together the contractor and subcontractors for a coordinated and successful project finish. This is the contractor, and the people in his or her Rolodex are trusted subcontractors.
General contractors are the “big picture” thinkers. They work with you through the entire project, from the idea phase to the finished product. By contrast, subcontractors come and go. They specialize in certain areas of the construction process, like large equipment operation, concrete formulation, plumbing, electricity and carpentry. They enter a project to do a particular task and leave when that task is finished. Since subcontractors are independent business people, general contractors don’t have to pay to insure them or pay employment taxes on them. Hiring subcontractors for overflow work or to perform tasks that call for expertise that isn’t needed on a regular basis saves expenses for the general contractor and ultimately, for you.
Should you hire a general contractor for your remodeling or renovation project? Or would you be better off to hire subcontractors directly? Let general contractors bring to your project all successful finishes.
What Are the Contractor’s Responsibilities?
Good contractors can bring piece of mind, knowledge of industry standards and project management expertise. They also handle and bring a license, insurance and worker’s compensation.
The general contractor is responsible for the quality of all the work he or she oversees as part of the contract. If something goes wrong during the construction, it’s up to the general contractor to get it fixed. The cost of those repairs comes out of the contract budget, not your pocket. Knowledge of building codes is also a key resource that a general contractor brings to your project.
In the end, it’s up to you to decide if your job warrants a general contractor or if you can handle to project yourself. But a general contractor could take some of the worry and stress out of the job for you, so when it’s done, you can sit back and enjoy the work.
