Hiring a Contractor: Top 9 Questions to Ask a General Contractor in Scottsdale

Are you planning a big construction project?

Whether you’re building a custom home from the ground up or planning a big renovation, you’ll need the help of a general contractor to make sure your vision comes to fruition.

A great contractor can make all the difference when you’re trying to complete a project. But, how do you find such a contractor?

Listed below are nine of the most important questions to ask a general contractor in Scottsdale before you hire them.

Why Hire a General Contractor?

Whether you’re building a new home or remodeling your current one, hiring a general contractor can make the process significantly easier.

Some of the greatest benefits that come from hiring a general contractor include:

• They serve as a single point of contact and accountability, so you won’t have to deal with coordinating individual suppliers and tradesmen


• They handle issues like schedule changes and inspections for you


• They have years of knowledge and experience, especially regarding building codes and local legislation that’s relevant to your project


• Your project will likely be completed faster


• They have liability insurance and workers compensation insurance, so there’s less risk should something go wrong


• They typically offer a warranty on your project


• They can get labor and materials at a lower price than you could on your own

Finally, general contractors know how to deal with the unexpected. They won’t get bent out of shape when something goes wrong and will know how to get things back on track as quickly as possible.

Questions to Ask a General Contractor

Clearly, hiring a general contractor is important. But, how do you make sure you’re hiring the right person for the job?

To start, ask them the following questions when you’re interviewing them.

The answers to these questions will tell you a lot about your potential contractor’s trustworthiness, reliability, and skill level.

1. How Long Have You Been in Business?

This is one of the first questions you should ask a potential contractor before hiring them. Their answer tells you a lot about their experience level and their dedication to their craft.

It’s also helpful to find out how long they’ve been working in your specific area. If they’ve been there for a while, they’re probably more familiar than a younger contractor with issues like building codes and inspections.

2. Have You Worked on Projects Like This Before?

It’s best to find a general contractor who has experience working on similar projects to the one you’re trying to accomplish.

Every contractor has different specialties — some focus on small-scale projects like bath and kitchen renovations, while others focus on large-scale projects like commercial buildings or custom homes.

Before you hire a contractor, find out what their specialty is and make sure it matches up with your needs.

3. How Do You Manage Your Scheduling?

Scheduling can be a nightmare when you’re working on a big project and don’t have a reliable contractor on your team.

Find out how your potential contractor manages scheduling issues before you decide to hire them. What kind of scheduling tools do they use? Do they utilize any kind of digital options that help you communicate and see what’s going on?

These tools aren’t essential, of course, but they can definitely be helpful, especially if you’re someone who likes to stay on top of your projects.

4. Can You Give Me an Estimated Timeline for the Project?

A good general contractor will provide you with a detailed timeline for your project. It should include information on each step of the project and should account for potential delays (inclement weather, late deliveries, etc.).

If they can’t give you this, you probably shouldn’t work with them.

5. How Can I Communicate with You During the Project?

Some contractors aren’t great communicators. This can be incredibly frustrating and make your project a lot more difficult.

Look for a contractor who encourages open communication between all of the project’s stakeholders. Be sure to find out their preferred communication methods and availability, too.

Do they only communicate by text, or can you call them? Are there specific hours when you can call them? Can you reach them directly, or do you have to call their office?

6. How Do You Handle Site Supervision?

It’s also important to find out who is going to be on-site to supervise the project. Ideally, your contractor will spend plenty of time on-site making sure tasks are completed properly.

Find out how much time they typically spend and look for someone who takes more of a hands-on approach. This is a sign that they’re invested in the project and want to make sure everything is completed safely and correctly.

7. How Do You Settle Project Disputes?

Sometimes, disputes come up, especially during big projects. Come up with a resolution plan ahead of time, before anything goes wrong. That way, you’ll know exactly how to handle the issue and can keep delays and additional charges to a minimum.

8. How Much Will I Pay Upfront?

It’s a show of good trust in your contractor to pay something upfront. But, if they charge too much, it could be a sign that they don’t have the financial capacity to start the project without you.

Every contractor has a different amount that they require you to pay at the beginning of the project. Be sure to compare rates from a few different candidates to make sure you’re being charged a fair price.

9. Will You Have Me Sign a Contract?

Finally, make sure they will have you sign a comprehensive contract that carefully details the requirements, specifications, and deadlines associated with your project.

This will protect you and them from any potential incidents. It also ensures the quality of your project and establishes a budget ahead of time.

If they don’t have you sign a contract, run the other way.

Are You Ready to Hire a General Contractor?

Now that you know which questions to ask a general contractor, it’s time to start looking for the perfect person to help you build or remodel your house.

If you’re looking for a great general contractor in Scottsdale, contact us at Peak One Builders today to learn more about our services or request a free project estimate.

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Are you thinking of building a luxury home? To ensure that your custom home building process goes smoothly, you will want to go with the best builder! Peak One Builders is a top residential general contractor in Scottsdale.  Contact us to set up a free consultation! Call 480-378-0611 today.

 

Read related articles:

• 7 Things to Look for in Residential Construction Companies


• What You Should Expect from the Best Custom Home Builders


• 5 Things You Must Do Before You Hire a Contractor

Hiring a Contractor: Top 9 Questions to Ask a General Contractor in Scottsdale

Want to Build a Guesthouse? Here"s How to Find the Best Building Contractors in Arizona!

We’ve all heard the horrifying stories about contractors who fail to properly complete a project in someone’s home and then take off with the cash, leaving the homeowner high and dry.

If you want to build a guesthouse on your property, you have to do your research in order to find a contractor who can get the job done and not leave you in the lurch.

Not sure how to find the best building contractor in your area? No worries! We’ve compiled a list of tips and tricks to help you find the perfect contractor for your guesthouse.

Before Doing Anything, Be Sure to Know the ADU Laws in Your City

ADU laws, or accessory dwelling unit laws, are a set of laws that describe what can be constructed on your property and how it must be constructed. These laws are unique from city to city, so you will want to check with the planning and zoning department at city hall to see what they have on the books.

For example, the City of Phoenix limits you to one guest house per lot and has restrictions on parking and the size of the guest house.

Your contractor should be familiar with the ADU laws in your city, and they should be familiar with which permits that need to be acquired in order to commence construction. Having your own knowledge of the process will help you weed out untrustworthy contractors.

Know What You Want, but Be Realistic

There are many types of guesthouses you can build on your property. Are you looking for a place for your relatives to stay when they come to visit? Do you want it to be energy efficient or would you prefer a no-holds-barred luxury guest house?

How you want to use it dictates what you need to include and what types of permits you’ll need. Most importantly, you want to make sure that what you want can be achieved within your budget. A good contractor will give you an honest evaluation of this.

Do a Thorough Check of Reviews and References

There are several websites online that allow customers to review the service they received. Try looking your potential contractors up on Angie’s List or Yelp! because they make an effort to verify the reviews.

Don’t rely on online reviews alone — ask your potential contractors to give you references from previous customers.

Check Complaints and Litigation History

Check online for evidence of complaints or lawsuits between this contractor and previous customers. You can check with your local court, too, to see if they have been the subject of litigation.

Be sure to also check the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed against them.

Confirm the Contractor Is Licensed and Insured

All contractors must be properly licensed and insured before they can work on any projects. Ask them for a copy of their license as well as copies of the licenses of any subcontractors who will be working on your new guest house.

Can They Build a Guesthouse?

Just like in any other profession, contractors frequently have types of construction in which they specialize. Obviously, you wouldn’t want someone who typically constructs office buildings to build your guest house, but that doesn’t mean any residential contractor will do.

Ask if they have constructed a guest house before, and ask for photos of their past work to verify the information.

They Should Provide Clear Information

Good contractors will provide you with clear information about the project. First, they will give you an estimate for the cost of the project.

Be sure not to max out your budget in the estimate. Always leave room for surprise costs.

Trustworthy contractors will also give you a relatively firm schedule in terms of when construction will commence, and when it will end. The key here is patience. The best contractors will have a busy schedule and won’t be able to start work right away, but rest assured, they are worth the wait.

Lastly, once you have agreed to move forward with a contractor, ask them for a list of workers. They should be able to provide you information about how many people will be working on your property, and who will be working on what.

If a potential contractor is being vague about expectations, look elsewhere.

Interview Three or More Contractors

This helps you in a few ways. First, it allows you to get a good idea of the cost involved in your project, from materials to labor. Second, it allows you to weed out contractors who are charging far too much and far too little — an indication that they are not necessarily being upfront with you about how much the project will cost.

Lastly, this allows you to negotiate the price down on your project by leveraging one offer against another.

Set a Payment Schedule

Do not ever pay a contractor the full amount for a project up front. Barring the necessity of certain luxury materials, the most you should pay up front should generally be about 10%.

Following the initial payment, establish a payment schedule that is determined by progress toward completion. For example, pay 10% down, 15% when they reach 25% completion, and then 25% for each quarter of completion thereafter. Do not make the final payment until they have reached 100% completion.

Sign a Detailed Contract

This is incredibly important. A contract is the first document a court will look at in the event you encounter issues and go to court with the contractor.

The contract should lay out exactly what work will be performed; the estimated start and completion dates; the materials that will be used, including specific models and the vendor from which they will be purchased; and the payment schedule.

If your project is particularly costly, consider hiring an attorney to go over the contract before signing. Be sure to put any changes that you and the contractor agree upon in writing as well.

Check out Our Website for All Your Luxury Construction Needs!

Finding a great contractor to build your dream guesthouse is the hardest part of getting it constructed.

Now that you’ve found the right contractor to build a guesthouse, sit back, relax, and start planning how you’ll decorate your new guesthouse!

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If you’d like to expand your property by adding a luxury guest home, call Peak One Builders! As a top residential construction contractor in Phoenix, we can help make your vision a reality. Give us a call today at (480) 378-0611 to get started.

Related Articles:

• Let Your Guests Live in Luxury With a New Guest Home


• 5 Luxury Additions that will Add Value to Your Home


• What Makes the Perfect Luxury Guest House?

Want to Build a Guesthouse? Here"s How to Find the Best Building Contractors in Arizona!