Where does the value lie in hiring a general contractor?

In and around Indianapolis and the greater Marion County area, there are a wide variety of neighborhoods – almost one hundred of them, In fact – from the relatively modest environs of Eagle Creek and Gallaudet Station through the historic districts of Chatham Arch and Lockerbie Square to pricier areas such as Zionsville and Carmel.

These neighborhoods encompass a wide diversity of building types and means that the experience and expertise of a general contractor is highly valued when it comes to remodeling. Not only can they help you in finding the best subcontractors and least expensive building materials but they can also help guide you through the somewhat intricate and time-consuming process of dealing with the Marion County building department.

While overseeing the project, a GC will assign the work, schedule its completion, inspect the work himself and then coordinate all of the activities with the local inspectors. All the while, he will also order the necessary materials, resolve any issues – identified by himself, the homeowner or a building inspector – and then ensure that all the appropriate payments are made.

Finally, the GC will act as an intermediary between the project owner and the subcontractors. It is important for the homeowner to understand the fundamental relationship between themselves and the subcontractors. The subs do not actually work for the homeowner – even though he is the one ultimately paying the bill. Instead, they get paid and take their directions from the general contractor. keep this fact in mind when asking the subcontractors to alter either the scope or timeline of the project.

How does a home or office building owner start the evaluation process?

Indianapolis anchors the 25th largest economic region in the United States. As such, there is an enormous amount of construction that takes place in the city. That fact also means that there are an extraordinary number of contractors – good and bad – in the greater metro area. Finding the right one to fulfill your construction needs is possible but will definitely take some time and effort. Here is a quick overview of how to proceed with this task.

The first step should be to establish the bona fides of the company. In particular, you should check and verify the following.

The company’s rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB)

The local Chamber of Commerce (CoC) evaluation of the company

The proper state and local licensing

Up-to-date insurance and bonding papers

The local Chamber of Commerce and the Better Business Bureau of Indianapolis and Marion County are intensely interested in provided the residents of the area with reputable reports about contractors in the area. Trust them to keep their end of the bargain and report both the best and the worst of those contractors in the area.

Secondly, state and local authorities also have the same goal but they aim to ensure compliance by mandating that general contractors obtain a state certification as well as meet certain local insurance and bonding requirements. In no case should you employ a contractor who fails to meet any of these minimums.

Finally, the best general contractors will provide a list of satisfied customers who will be willing to discuss their experience with the contractor. Contacting these references is, by far, the best way to measure the dependability and workmanship of a general contractor. It is even better if the GC gives you the contact information for a client whose project is still under construction. With any luck, you can visit them and see for yourself how the work is progressing.