General contractors plan and manage construction projects from start to finish. They schedule and supervise subcontractors such as electricians, plumbers and carpenters, order materials, coordinate inspections and keep the job on track.
Common general contractor services include:
Hire a general contractor when a project involves several trades, structural work or permits and you want one company responsible for the whole job. Specific remodeling projects also have their own categories.
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A general contractor oversees a construction project, hiring and scheduling subcontractors, ordering materials, managing the budget and timeline, and coordinating inspections. They are your main point of contact and are responsible for the work being completed as agreed.
A general contractor is helpful when a project involves more than one trade, changes to walls or structure, or permits and inspections. For a single-trade job, such as replacing a water heater, hiring that trade directly is often simpler.
Ask for references from similar projects, a detailed written bid and a clear contract with scope, payment schedule and change-order process. Check whether your state or city requires a contractor license, confirm insurance, and ask who will supervise the site day to day.
Cost depends on the project's size and complexity, materials and finishes, the trades involved, structural or code-related work, permits, site conditions and the contractor's fee or markup. Changes after work begins usually add cost.
Define your goals, budget and must-haves, and gather any plans or inspiration photos. Ask how communication will work, where materials and dumpsters will go, and which areas of the home will be off limits during construction.