Why Homeowners Need A General Contractor For Their Remodeling Projects

7 July 2015 by Derrick Gordon

Are you currently contemplating a home remodeling project? Are you still trying to decide whether to tackle everything yourself or hire someone to do it for you? Here are some reasons why hiring general contractors for your upcoming project is a good idea:

Zoning regulations and permits: Zoning regulations can vary greatly from city to city. For example, a nearby town may not require permits for the construction of a large barn or other outbuilding so long as it has no electrical hookups or plumbing. But your city may require permits in order for you to be allowed to construct even the smallest of outbuildings. Trying to figure out what permits you might need and whether or not a particular project is even allowed in your city can be difficult. Fortunately, general contractors keep themselves updated on zoning regulations for the cities they work in. They'll be able to tell you whether moving your kitchen sink to the opposite side of the room will require special permits or not. If permits are needed, they'll be more familiar with the process and can help walk you through it.

Safety: As a homeowner, you may have the skills necessary to change a door knob or find a stud to hold a picture frame. However, your lack of expertise with electrical wiring or plumbing issues could create structural or safety hazards for you and your family. For example, you could inadvertently reverse the neutral and hot wires when connecting the terminals on an outlet. This could create a deadly situation that isn't noticed until someone is shocked when they plug something into the outlet. The general contractor has the expertise and the knowledge necessary to make sure that everything is installed properly and tested thoroughly so that any immediate or future problems are avoided. 

Building a supply network: If this is your first remodeling project, you probably plan on picking up supplies at your nearest hardware store. However, depending on the size of your project, that may not be the best option. General contractors often perform the same, or very similar, projects over and over again. They have a list of suppliers who may offer better quality products than can be found in a typical hardware store. In addition, they may even be able to get you a substantial discount off of what you were expecting to pay. As a result, your remodeling project could potentially have a much lower budget than you were initially expecting. Contact a general contractor for more info.

Share

Search