After you have made a list of worthy building contractors, is it time to look more closely at each candidate's qualifications. At the very least, you will want to make sure that each person you consider has a general contractors license, and sufficient insurance coverage for worker's compensation, damage to property, and personal liability. You can then meet up with each contractor that conforms to your criteria and find out whether or not they can comply with the work and scheduling requirements. Now would also be a good time to ask each contractor for references from satisfied customers they have worked for in the past.
Here's a bit of advice with regard to checking the references of potential contractors: always ask to see the work that your would-be contractor has done for previous clients. It isn't enough to merely talk to the former customer on the phone, since there will be no way for you to verify whether or not the contractor you are considering has actually done any work for them. By visiting the customer's home, you will be able to inspect the contractor's work firsthand and verify that your potential contractor has in fact done a good job. Don't be too shy about asking to see their home either. Most people who have had work successfully done on their homes will be happy to show them off.
Your search for a commercial general contractor should not end with samples of his previous work. In order to reduce the risk of any potential problems, you should also look into his credentials and qualifications. Your first step in this regard is to check with your city's building code inspector, local business bureau, or builder's licensing board. This will allow you to find out if any complaints have been lodged against the contractor you are considering.General Contractor
You should also ask any potential contractor about their license, as well as insurance and bonding compliance. Make sure that the contractor you are consulting with has the appropriate licenses as required by your city's building codes. Now would also be the ideal time to ask your contractor what kind of liability insurance he carries, and the extent of its coverage. If your contractor is on the level, he should have no problem showing his credentials to any potential clients. This is an important part of the qualification process for any general building contractor-and indeed for almost any type of professional-so you should not neglect this crucial step. By making sure everything is in order, you will greatly reduce the risk of any liability on your part if things go wrong with the construction project, or if the workers end up unpaid.
Finally, you will want to make sure that the contractor you hire is easy to work with. Qualifications, credentials, and a good track record of successfully completed jobs are important of course, but it is in the day-to-day construction job that you will really see the worth of your building contractor. You don't necessarily want a contractor who will paint a rosy picture of the project or present you with overly optimist project forecasts. Instead, you will want someone you can trust who will let you know about any potential problems before they come up, and will ideally have solutions to these problems. Remember that the success of the entire construction project hinges a great deal on the skills and capabilities of your chosen contractor, so you will want to hire one who will work closely with you towards the realization of the project's goals.
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