Your Minneapolis general contractor provides more than simple oversight

In the metro Twin Cities area, a general contractor – more commonly known as a GC –- offers an enormous amount of value if asked to manage the remodel of an apartment, a home or an office. Typically, they are given complete control over the actual construction aspects of a project once the final plans have been approved by the homeowner, the architect and the local building authority. In short, the GC is responsible for turning the vision of project into actual reality.

Depending on the amount of money involved, the homeowner – that is, the one paying for the project – may consider the contribution of a GC as either trivial or significant. In either case, the GC’s job entails a number of specific duties. In particular, the GC will be responsible for ordering the required materials, hiring the appropriate subcontractors and for paying all of the vendors involved in those transactions. In addition, the GC will coordinate the visits of the local building inspectors to ensure that all permitting and approval of the work is done in a timely manner.

A second – equally important – task of a GC is to act as an intermediary between the home or office owner and the subcontractors. It may seem attractive to the project owner to try to direct the subcontractors on their own but this can lead to several serious problems. Any changes or delays due to the homeowner’s interference will result in higher costs. In short, it is simply best for the project owner to make his concerns known to the general contractor and then let the GC decide how to resolve them.

The GC is responsible the project from start to finish

A general contractor provides a single point of contact for the project owner – a not inconsequential detail. To begin, they will develop and submit a budget to the project owner for approval. Once the budget is established, the contractor will start the project and it now becomes their responsibility to complete the project on time and at the agreed upon price.

In addition, they will coordinate the activities of everyone involved with the project. These are no small tasks but ones that an experienced GC can accomplish with little trouble.

Similarly, throughout the project, the GC will perform a number of inspections by himself and with the foreman of each of the subcontractors. At each stages completion, he will also conduct and inspection with the local building authorities and with the homeowner. At each stage, deficiencies can be rectified and any change orders addressed. As the project nears completion, the GC will conduct a final walkthrough with the project owner.

This process involves creating a “punch list” that documents all of the final improvements that must be made. It is simply an itemization of all the minor problems associated with the project. Once these issues are resolved, the GC can receive final payment from the owner and close the books on the project. Better GCs will also follow up in two to three weeks to see that everything is satisfactory with the job.