Why You Should Hire a Commercial General Contractor for Your Project
If you’re about to begin a commercial construction project, it can be tempting to handle all the little details yourself. But overseeing a large project is a full-time job that requires extensive planning and knowledge, and most project owners just don’t have the time to do it.
Instead of getting bogged down with paperwork, permit applications, and subcontractor bids, consider hiring a commercial general contractor. Learn what these construction experts do and the benefits they bring to your project.
What Is a General Contractor?
Commercial general contractors are responsible for every aspect of your construction project, from coordinating with designers to creating the construction schedule. They manage all the overlapping projects within each stage of the construction process to prevent costly mistakes and delays. And they’re not just helpful behind the scenes—general contractors also provide hands-on support during construction to ensure subcontractors meet your quality standards.
Expectations of a General Contractor
Here are a few of the services you can expect from a commercial general contractor:
- Estimating project costs
- Coordinating with architects and engineers
- Applying for permits
- Creating project plans
- Selecting subcontractors
- Researching local building codes
- Finalizing and managing schedules
- Procuring materials
- Troubleshooting problems during pre-construction and construction
- Overseeing construction work
The services you receive from a commercial general contractor depend on your project and how soon you get them involved. If you go the design-build route, your general contractor will coordinate everything from day one. You can also wait to introduce a general contractor when the construction stage begins.
4 Benefits of Hiring a General Contractor
Whether you need a kitchen remodel in your corporate office or a newly built warehouse for your manufacturing company, a commercial general contractor could be an invaluable asset to your project. These are just a few of the benefits of hiring a contractor.
Lower Costs and Faster Timelines
You may think that doing everything yourself is the cheapest way to complete your construction project, but that most likely isn’t true. General contractors have connections with local material suppliers and subcontractors and can often get you better rates than you would get on your own.
Contractors can also foresee potential issues before construction, so you don’t have to spend money redoing work. Hiring a professional to keep timelines moving can also prevent delays due to permits, change orders, and other unforeseen events, saving you valuable time.
Better Quality of Work
Sometimes, issues on the job site aren’t always obvious. You might not be able to tell if your subcontractor team installed kitchen cabinets correctly, poured the right amount of concrete, or placed the proper subfloor material for your flooring. But an experienced commercial general contractor can spot small mistakes and fix them before it’s too late.
Compliance With Local Codes and Regulations
Building codes can be highly complicated, and failing to meet local regulations can force you to start from scratch on your project. If you don’t have hours to research laws, connect with officials from your city, and ensure that all your project plans are up to code, a general contractor can help.
Experienced commercial general contractors should already be familiar with local codes and federal regulations, and they can handle permit applications and inspections on your behalf.
Peace of Mind
The jobsite can be a dangerous place, and things can go wrong quickly. When you hire a commercial general contractor to oversee your project, you don’t have to worry about being held liable. Your contractor’s general liability policy covers a range of accidents that could occur during construction.
Even if everything goes according to plan during your construction project, a general contractor still provides peace of mind that things are getting done right the first time. You don’t have to take hours out of your day to call everyone involved in the project and ensure everything is on pace—you can sit back and relax knowing that a reliable project manager has everything handled.
Find the Right Team With This General Contractor Checklist
Are you struggling to choose between potential contractors? This general contractor checklist can help you pick the right team and feel confident in your decision.
Here are a few things you should do before hiring a commercial contractor:
- Ask for examples of past projects in your industry. Look at pictures to assess the quality of work.
- Search for reviews or ask past clients about their experiences.
- Check for any reported complaints with the Better Business Bureau.
- Meet with the team and ask lots of questions about their experience and process.
- Double check their licenses, bonds, and insurance.
- Request bids from a few companies and compare.
- Make sure the contractor will draw up a contract. You can request a sample agreement beforehand to see what it might include.
- Carefully review any contracts to ensure they outline the scope of work, materials, schedule, guarantees, and budget.
Need a Commercial General Contractor in the Mid-Atlantic?
Hiring a general contractor is the best way to ensure your project will go according to plan. But finding the perfect contractor to fit your needs isn’t always easy. If you’re looking for a team that can handle everything from start to finish for any job, from healthcare facility construction to retail remodeling projects, look no further than Connor Construction.
We tailor our general contracting services to fit each client’s needs and schedule, which means you can be as involved or hands-off as you want. We use our long-term relationships with local subcontractors and design teams to ensure you have the right professionals to tackle your project. Our goal is to complete your project on time and under budget, and we have a stellar track record of making it happen.
Contact our team today to learn more about our experience, credentials, and services.