Of course, you do! Well, I’m a general contractor; what did you expect. Now let me convince you with five key reasons why you need a remodeling general contractor.

1.       Knowledge Base –  People who have been successful at a few home repairs often get overconfident about what they know and what they can do. A remodeling general contractor who is working all day every day on a multitude of projects will avoid many of the mistakes that a less knowledgeable person will make. Often these mistakes are catastrophic causing extensive damage.

2.       Relationships – Most remodeling projects require various trades such as plumbers, electricians, and heating and cooling subcontractor. While anyone can hire these people, they are much more easily managed and scheduled by someone who has an ongoing relationship with them. A general contractor gives his/her trades a good deal of work every year making them more beholden to the General Contractor than they are to a do-it-yourselfer. This duration of relationship allows the General Contractor to know the strengths and weaknesses of their subcontractors allowing them to know where extra oversight is needed and where to ask for more input for an improved job.

3.       Frustration – It looks easy on TV, but the finesse of craft is honed over time. Tasks that look simple on TV can quickly become frustrating and end up looking less impressive than the vision had been. What takes a skilled craftsman an hour may take many hours for a hobbyist.
Business handshake of two men closing a deal - remodeling general contractor

4.       Oversight – Anyone can hire a mason. Not everyone knows what is required to get a beautiful job that will last a long time or how long it should take.  Managing the various trades while making sure that the right material is on the job at the right time and managing quality control takes a lot of knowledge, experience, good systems, and skill.

5.       Cost – Certainly, if you don’t calculate your labor you can reduce the cost of remodeling. Our best clients are those who have done remodeling projects themselves because they understand the value of skilled tradespeople. A good general contractor will not only have volume discounts on both materials and subcontractors, but they are also able to get things done much quicker, which reduces cost and frustration.

In Texas, there is no license required to be a remodeling general contractor. So, it is more than possible to hire a less than professional general contractor. But if you follow some simple rules for hiring a general contractor, you will be able to find great value.