When I bought a house from the turn of last century, I knew it would need some work.
I got a good price on it with the knowledge that would be doing building and remodelling.
I wasn’t at all sure what kinds of building and remodelling I would be doing, so I reached out to some building and remodeling contractors to get their thoughts and ideas. Although it seemed like they were the right kind of construction company, they recommended that I get a general contractor. They said the house was really a total revamp, and because of that the job was too big for most construction and remodelling companies. A general contractor, they explained, is responsible for every aspect of a construction job. When there would be need for multiple kinds of work to be done, it would be best to have a general contractor take care of everything to make sure that nothing was left behind. For example, the remodeling construction guys told me I would need to upgrade the electrical system, which requires having an electrician. The plumbing was old and likely corroded, so I would also need a plumber. Because the flooring was in need of repair or replacement, I would need flooring specialists. The wood rot and places where there would need to be ADA compliant upgrades, such as the front porch, would require carpenters. It was then that I began to understand the importance of a general contractor. It would be impossible for me to keep all that straight, and how would I know if they were doing things right or not? The construction carpenters told me that general contractors know about everything and would take care of inspecting everything as part of their responsibilities. Fabulous!