Important Facts You Need to Know About A General Contractor

Hat is a General Contractor?

A general contractor is an individual who is responsible for the day-to-day operations and oversight of a construction project. In addition to this general role, a general contractor is responsible for acting as the intermediary between the design team, the construction workers and the owner of the underlying project. As the liaison, a general contractor will communicate with all those individuals and organizations involved in the project.

The Responsibilities of the General Contractor:

Before the commencement of a construction project, a general contractor will visit and assess the construction site. When evaluating the property, the contractor will formulate an expected price for the project, known as the estimate. Upon determining the price for the property, the contractors will then evaluate the cost of all materials, equipment, as well as the cost of labor. After analyzing the expected cost of the project, the contractor will provide the owner of the building with an estimated price for the entire construction process.

Following the delivery of the expected price for the project, the contractor will draw up contracts for the owner, the employees and the design team. These contracts will elaborate on the budget and the conditions revolving around the plans and specifications of the project. The contractor will utilize a design professional, such as an architect, to evaluate the necessities of the project in alignment with the building’s design or structure. That being said, the contractor will commonly act as the project engineer or the project manager in the majority of construction sites.

What is a Contractor Responsible for?

A general contractor is responsible for providing the construction companies and the individual workers with all material, including labor, equipment and those services necessary for the construction of the project. In order to accomplish these tasks, the contractor will incorporate specialized subcontractors to perform specialized tasks or portions of the construction process.

The responsibilities of a general contractor will vary depending on the size and complexity of the construction effort. In a general sense, a contractor is responsible for providing or accomplishing the following tasks: filing for building permits, securing the property, managing the workers on site, providing temporary materials and utilities on site, providing engineering functions and surveying for the site, disposing of wastes left over by the construction process, monitoring the schedules of workers, balancing the costs of the project and maintain accurate records regarding the finances and the construction process as a whole.

A General Contractor’s Typical Project:

An owner of a building or a real estate developer will develop a project based on their needs and wants. Following the development of their idea, the owner will then choose a site or location for the project to be built on. An architect or design professional would then assemble a design team of engineers to design the building and pinpoint specifications needed for construction. During this phase, the general contractor will participate in the design efforts by providing services aligned with price estimations and information revolving around scheduling.

The owner, general contractor and architect will then work closely together to meet the deadline and budget of the project. The general contractor will work with subcontractors to ensure that all quality standards have been met, in addition to the budget and timeline.