4 ms·

Square foot costs are only given by a GC, so that's already included. > I know people who GC the projects themselves to save a great deal of money. Do not do

by maratd 9y ago

Square foot costs are only given by a GC, so that's already included. > I know people who GC the projects themselves to save a great deal of money. Do not do this unless you know what you're doing. One bad contractor (and you will be hiring many) can trash the whole project. The value of the GC is that he brings a stable of quality contractors that he knows and works with. I've gone both ways, it really depends on the situation.

vvanders 9y ago
Yup, and the good ones don't usually advertise since word gets around that they know their stuff.
kqr2 9y ago
Any advice on how to find a good GC? All the people I know who remodeled their home seem to have horror stories. A couple of them ended in law suits with the GC.
- killjoywashere 9y ago
  Look for someone who also does commercial work.
- carllerche 9y ago
  I had good luck. As mentioned above, finding a good GC is not easy because they do not advertise. It is entirely word of mouth. I live in the pacific NW where there are a lot of old craftsman style homes. High quality woodwork details is the theme. I started by calling high end custom furniture shops and asked them if they could do built in cabinetry work. They did not, but they recommended a number of woodworkers that moved on from furniture into contracting (carpentry, custom window sashes, storm windows, etc...). Then, I asked them what GCs they have worked with in the past and which they would recommend. A few names came up often, I spoke with them, picked one, and was really happy with the work. I guess the tl;dr is, good GCs use highly skilled subs, so find the subs then ask which GCs they recommend.
- dcldcl 9y ago
  1. Keep talking to people who've finished projects. Eventually you'll get to people who recommend their GC. 2. If you've run out of people to chat up, try going to your city's build permits department and see which builders have been getting permits in the last few years. Not a guarantee of quality, but gives you a list to interview. 3. Ask for referrals from your architect or engineer. And then ask the referrals for references. But even if you do this, finding a good GC in Silicon Valley is very hard right now. I tried getting contractors to bid almost a year ago. From 25 calls/emails, I got replies from about 8. Of those, half said some variant of "sorry, too busy to take on new projects right now." I can't imagine how much crazier it'll be this year with the hotter housing market and the added demand for rebuilding after the fires.
- dagw 9y ago
  Have you or your friends worked with any contractor that you like and trust? If so start there and work backwards. I happened upon a really good plumber, for example, so now any time I hire any other contractor I call that plumber and ask him whom I should call. So far it's worked out great.

by maratd 9y ago

vvanders 9y ago

Yup, and the good ones don't usually advertise since word gets around that they know their stuff.

kqr2 9y ago

Any advice on how to find a good GC? All the people I know who remodeled their home seem to have horror stories. A couple of them ended in law suits with the GC.

killjoywashere 9y ago
Look for someone who also does commercial work.
carllerche 9y ago
I had good luck. As mentioned above, finding a good GC is not easy because they do not advertise. It is entirely word of mouth. I live in the pacific NW where there are a lot of old craftsman style homes. High quality woodwork details is the theme. I started by calling high end custom furniture shops and asked them if they could do built in cabinetry work. They did not, but they recommended a number of woodworkers that moved on from furniture into contracting (carpentry, custom window sashes, storm windows, etc...). Then, I asked them what GCs they have worked with in the past and which they would recommend. A few names came up often, I spoke with them, picked one, and was really happy with the work. I guess the tl;dr is, good GCs use highly skilled subs, so find the subs then ask which GCs they recommend.
dcldcl 9y ago
1. Keep talking to people who've finished projects. Eventually you'll get to people who recommend their GC. 2. If you've run out of people to chat up, try going to your city's build permits department and see which builders have been getting permits in the last few years. Not a guarantee of quality, but gives you a list to interview. 3. Ask for referrals from your architect or engineer. And then ask the referrals for references. But even if you do this, finding a good GC in Silicon Valley is very hard right now. I tried getting contractors to bid almost a year ago. From 25 calls/emails, I got replies from about 8. Of those, half said some variant of "sorry, too busy to take on new projects right now." I can't imagine how much crazier it'll be this year with the hotter housing market and the added demand for rebuilding after the fires.
dagw 9y ago
Have you or your friends worked with any contractor that you like and trust? If so start there and work backwards. I happened upon a really good plumber, for example, so now any time I hire any other contractor I call that plumber and ask him whom I should call. So far it's worked out great.