What should homeowners know before hiring a general contractor? This blog details 5 main things to check to find a trustworthy/reputable GC for your next home improvement project.

Know What You Need to Know Before Signing a Contract!

How can the average homeowner – who wants to safely and affordably select the correct contractor for an upcoming home improvement, such as a kitchen or bathroom remodel – find a reputable and knowledgeable contractor (who charges fair market prices) to take on their project to a successful outcome?

There is no singular or simple answer. The fact remains that a good deal of what will make your home construction project a satisfying success is largely based on how well you and your general contractor “gel,” how well your GC understands your project vision, and how well your GC can translate that vision into a reality with clear, open, and honest communication all throughout the process, from early design to final completion.

However, here are 5 key things to keep in mind before you sign a contract with a California general contractor (GC), who is licensed to do the construction work you want to have done – with the first item on this list being the most vital:

1. Verify that your contractor is an actively licensed California GC.  

While there are parties claiming to be a “licensed contractor,” only those actually licensed as a general contractor (class B), are recognized by the state of California to manage, coordinate, and build entire projects, typically requiring at least two unrelated trades (e.g. framing and electrical). Consider that if you want to have a kitchen or bathroom remodeled, add a room, or build an Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU), you will need to hire a General Contractor. Only a GC is able to do the framing, electrical, plumbing, mechanical, and all structural work required, as well as being able to pull the necessary building permits you will need for this range of construction work.

Please note that specialty contractors (class C) are restricted to a specific trade or niche, such as a C-10 for electrical, or a C-36 for plumbing. In California, a specialty contractor may only work within their licensed scope, and not beyond their area of specialization.

To ensure you have a capable and actively licensed GC, you must check their California license number. NOTE: A reputable GC will post their license number on their website and business card. In order to confirm their license is active, in good standing, and they maintain the requisite bond and insurance, visit the website of the California Department of Consumer Affairs Contractors State Licensing Board. While there, confirm your GC has Worker’s Compensation insurance (for their employees), and that they have a construction bond and general liability insurance to protect you from any liability exposure.
Any strikes against a license (by a consumer who has been wronged by this GC) will be listed by the CSLB to make you aware of their history, and to help you avoid potential problems. By checking this one website, you can help ensure you have a legitimate GC (not an imposter) and be afforded legal protections and remedies should something go awry on your project.

Many unsuspecting homeowners hire unlicensed (imposters) or insufficiently licensed contractors, never realizing their mistake until after the fact, or once a hidden problem has surfaced, such as a faulty circuit, leaky plumbing, structural issue, or a failure to meet current building code. Often these things can be invisible to the average homeowner, but become seriously problematic when an electrical fire starts, a water leak has already done damage, or a home sale is pending and the work that was done by the imposter is both subpar and unpermitted. By simply doing your due diligence and checking that your GC is appropriately and actively licensed, bonded, and insured, you can eliminate your biggest construction hurdle!

2. Validate Your Contractor’s Trustworthiness.

To ensure you are dealing with a reputable GC, it is prudent to check their Better Business Bureau rating and reviews. An A+ rating signifies the BBB’s highest confidence that a general contractor is operating in good faith and is likely to resolve customer issues, based on factors like complaint history, transparency, and BBB accreditation standards. Ed Neir Construction is an A+ rated, actively licensed, highly reputable general contractor with 5 Star reviews.

3. Confirm Your Contractors Capabilities.

Ask to see photos of your prospective contractor’s work and request customer references. Make a point of calling 2 customers to ask about the GC’s: 1) ease and openness of communication, 2) quality of workmanship, 3) budget adherence, 4) respectfulness and reliability (i.e. did they show up as planned? was the jobsite kept clean? were special accommodations honored, such as parking work trucks only where specified, or entering the premises only during agreed to hours?).

4. Ask How Changes are Handled.

Be sure to ask your prospective contractors how problems or plan changes are handled. An experienced and knowledgeable GC routinely uses Change Orders – to which you indicate your agreement via your signature – when changes to the plan arise. A change order is a formal, written amendment to the original contract that modifies the scope of work, project schedule, or contract amount.
Additionally, a capable GC can often anticipate and advise you on how best to proceed when hidden issues are revealed – such as dry rot, water damage, or pest intrusion – which can be more common in an older home. Based on Ed Neir’s experience and the advice of home improvement experts, a 15%-20% budget contingency is highly recommended to account for such unknown issues.

5. Confirm Costs

Unless you already have a trusted and actively licensed and insured GC, asking for 3 bids can help ascertain, and ensure, a fair market price.

For any identical construction project, legitimately licensed contractors should quote you a price that is nearly identical. This happens to be the case because the costs of permits, labor, materials, overhead, and other factors key to a given construction project will be nearly identical, with but minor exceptions.
However, you must make certain that any estimates you gather are based upon the exact same project details and scope: apples-to-apples, NOT apples-to-oranges.

Make certain to provide each GC the exact same project parameters upon which to submit their bid. Typically, fair market pricing from a reputable and actively licensed GC should be comparable for a comparable project.

Beware of bids that are too high or too low, any parties that demand significant dollars upfront, and any who fail to provide a written contract.

For a Trusted, Local, Actively Licensed GC, Call Ed Neir Construction

When looking to hire a reliable, reputable, and trusted general contractor for your next home improvement project, call Ed Neir, BBB A+ rated licensed general contractor at (707) 999-5878 for a free consultation and estimate.

Ed Neir, General Contractor
License #: 928715