Being the General Contractor - Part 2 of 2

In Part 1 of this 2 part series, we discussed a few reasons why a client should let the general contractor handle issues related to materials and suppliers. In Part 2, we'll take a look at reasons the client should avoid bringing in their own subcontractor to perform a portion of the work.

PART 2


Subcontractors:

A good general contractor will have a team of qualified individuals that he or she trusts to get the job done properly and without delay. When a client expresses his or her desire to bring someone in for a particular part of the project, it can make the general contractor uneasy, and with good reason. After all, the general contractor's name and reputation are on the line. He or she is expected to get the project completed within budget and in a timely manner. Hey.... what could possibly go wrong? Plenty.

Being the General Contractor - Part 1 of 2

From time to time, I meet clients that wish to use their own resources for parts of a project I'll be doing for them. Sometimes, the client wants to provide their own materials to avoid paying a small mark-up. Other times, a client will want to bring in a particular individual or company to do a specific job within the project. For example, they know a glass guy that did their mother's friend's uncle's sister-in-law's shower enclosure, and they heard he was the best and cheapest in town. Or, maybe their co-worker's bff's boyfriend's parents had granite counter tops done in the kitchen, and they think they can save a few bucks by bringing them in. You get the idea.

Many contractors out there will not allow this. And, there is good reason for a contractor to have objections to these types of requests. I've known contractors that will walk away from a project, rather than deal with a client's subcontractors and / or material suppliers, and I don't blame them. It can make a project more difficult than it should be. And, although I will do my best to accommodate my client's requests, here's a few good reasons why the client should allow the general contractor to be in charge and do his or her job.

Avoid The Risk

A significant portion of my business focuses on minor "handyman" repairs. Sometimes, it's a few pictures hung or a shelf put up in a closet. Other times, it's replacing a window treatment or putting up a safety grab bar in a shower. Often times, a client will gather a list of items over a period of time and call me to come in and take care of it all at once.

A common misconception amongst prospective clients is that they don't need to hire a properly licensed and insured individual to handle minor repairs. They figure they'll save a few bucks by not hiring a licensed professional. After all, what could possibly go wrong by having Handyman Joe put up some curtain rods around the house? He doesn't need a license and insurance for that, right? Well........

The fact is, homeowners that hire unlicensed people to work on their property are putting themselves at serious risk. Here's a couple reasons why you should not take the risk of hiring an unlicensed individual to work in your home.