choosing the right General Contractor for your remodel

When clients come to us ready for a custom kitchen design, or a complete home renovation, one of the first questions they ask is: Do you have general contractors you can recommend? The answer is yes. In fact, we bring in the builder for almost all of our renovation projects. Naturally, the next question is often: how do you decide who to hire?

There are five factors that we consider before adding a general contractor to our trusted network.

1. Reputation

We do not let strangers into our homes. So why should we let strangers build yours? Every general contractor that we recommend needs to have a solid and proven track record. Here’s what we look for:

• Professional certifications and proper licensing and bonding is a starting point. We check to see if there is a record of any complaints with the Oregon CCB.

• Beyond paper qualifications, we look at their finished projects and the quality of the detailing and materials. We ask who their key trades and suppliers are. It’s a good sign if they have strong long-term relationships with their trades. It means they are good partners and it adds efficiency to the construction process.

• How many years have they been remodeling homes and what is their construction background? There is no substitute for experience in this business.

• We seek out references from previous clients. The best general contractors are known for undeviating excellence and attention to detail. We look for comments about these qualities in their reviews and listen for them in conversations.

2. Execution

Technical competence is meaningless without implementation. General contractors need to know construction through and through and they need to live and breathe project management. I notice the best ones really absorb the plans, ask questions, and have the ability to see the timeline and potential obstacles at a very early stage. We look for contractors who will deliver on their promises and will remain available and responsive throughout the project. Here are some of the questions we ask during the selection process:

• How many ongoing projects do they typically maintain?

• How will progress be tracked and how will milestones be measured?

• What is their bidding process? Do they charge for bids? What level of detail do they include in the bid?

• Does every job have a dedicated project manager?

• Do you have an administrative support team and professional bookkeepers?

There is no universally correct answer to any of the questions above, but the response to these questions will help us decide if a general contractor is a good fit for our clients.

3. Character

We want to work with builders who share our core values of kindness and respect, and our enthusiasm in bringing your forever home to life. We ask ourselves: Are they polite? Are they good listeners? Are they comfortable taking instructions from us? A project team has to be able to laugh together (and sometimes, at each other). Plus, like every great project manager, they need to be:

• Effective communicators: They are responsive to any questions or concerns, and respect your time. There is clarity in their communications and they can explain technical concepts in plain language. They are not afraid of delivering bad news when they need to and will be prepared to offer possible solutions.

• Efficient collaborators: They focus on delivering what you want, and not whatever is easiest for them to get the job done. They are relentless problem-solvers and always remain calm through the storm.

4. Compliance

Your general contractor should be familiar in managing any permits required. He should ensure that his employees and subcontractors have proper insurance. He must pay his suppliers and subcontractors on time. He does not just keep the worksite clean - he complies with waste disposal and other safety regulations. And he must do all of the above without compromising on the quality of the work product. Finally, a good contractor will always provide you with a professional comprehensible contract that holds all parties accountable.

5. Transparency

We all know that the lowest bid can end up being very expensive - though we also know that the most expensive ones are not necessarily the best ones. Our preferred general contractors share our commitment to respecting your budget and cost transparency. We want to work with builders who understand that you deserve to know what they are spending your money on. No one likes hidden charges. The general contractor should be upfront and open about the costs and fees, and he must be comfortable in explaining how the final price is arrived at. There should not be surprises in the invoice.

A good general contractor takes away unnecessary stress from you. A poor one contributes to it. We recommend contractors who go the extra mile to make the experience positive from start to finish, and even, dare I say, fun?