What Does a General Contractor Do?

---

What is a General Contractor? 

This is a person or company to get your more complicated construction work done based on an agreed upon, contractual scope of work. A general contractor coordinates and executes the work and construction of larger projects – where specific knowledge, planning, and expertise is needed. They are licensed as a general contractor in the jurisdiction they are doing work in.  

What does a General Contractor do? 

A General Contractor will manage financial planning, budgeting and cashflow, and (at risk of over-iterating common phrases) get your job done on time, on budget, and safely. They’ll keep the jobsite clean and limit intrusiveness to building operations or your home as much as possible. This takes a variety of skillsets and expertise.   

A General Contractor will coordinate and manage the people that get actually the work done effectively and fairly or do it themselves to meet commitments. Often times they’ve built strong relationships with subcontractors and suppliers. These people are the skilled tradesmen that get your project done. On the other side of the coin, a GC will likewise make sure crews show up on time and deliver work as promised. If they are unable to do so, it’s up to the General Contractor to rectify it. A good GC delivers the project fairly and ensures the contractual agreement is met. A General Contractor also manages the quality of the work that is being completed.  

A General Contractor is responsible for the safety of the workers, clients, and public in regards to a construction project. A good General Contractor will manage the security of the jobsite, minimize disruption, and coordinate with any stakeholders to ensure work is completed to the satisfaction of the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) and contractual agreement.  

A General Contractor will manage unforeseen conditions and changed scope of work. No matter how good an architect or engineer is (and there are many talented ones out there), things will slip through the cracks: details that need coordination, an incorrectly located utility line, or an unsafe condition like an exposed live electrical wire hidden in a wall. They will document things accordingly and coordinate with all parties involved to reach the most beneficial solution for everyone.  

A General Contractor will handle procurement management and schedule. If you would like the new switchgear installed, and the switchgear will be delivered 10 weeks from ordering, they will schedule the work efficiently so the old switch gear is not demolished the week you ordered it and you are left without power for 10 weeks. This is a simple example with only a single scope of work; it can much more complicated even with a simple residential project. 

General Contractors are able to obtain licenses in specific jurisdictions/counties and thereby have the ability to pull permits for the work. It is important to look for a licensed General Contractor when hiring for your project.  

GC’s are not able to simply just “pay for a license”. General Contracting licenses are distributed and given by the state, county, or jurisdiction that the work is being completed in. Licensure is based on completing a rigorous written test, experience, history of competence, soft and hard skills, good judgement, logical thinking, planning skills, and to back it all up, officially recognized international standards and accreditations. This is evaluated by the AHJ prior to giving a license. Different jurisdictions have varying levels of requirements- a skyscraper is unlikely to be built in a small municipality and this is reflected accordingly on the requirements. 

Much of the time this is accomplished through years of hands-on experience in a trade and working around other tradesmen. In addition, often times General Contractors hold a more formal university degree in Construction Engineering, Construction Management, Building Sciences or engineering. There is a lot to know. Regardless of whether it is a degree, or years of work on jobsites, these are skillsets and experience that takes years or decades of work. There is no substitute for in-person, hands on experience, and appreciation for the different trades and work involved in construction. A good general contractor is not necessarily someone with a few years of framing experience and a toolbelt (though I do know plenty of good people that fit this description!) 

Do I need a General Contractor? 

Most of the time, absolutely not. There is no sense in paying for an additional person’s time if they don’t deliver value.  

For example, if you want to paint your house, are you are willing to hire a painting company, manage the days they work and make sure they’ve got the right color and don’t paint when it’s too cold out? If so, there is no need for a General Contractor. The majority of any trade-specific companies will know how to do things correctly, often times better than a general contractor. Simple plumbing fix? Call a plumber. Be sure to check your local jurisdiction’s requirements on permits prior to doing the work.  

Is your work is complicated, requires substantial planning, management and requires many different people and skillsets to pull together? Do you or your company have the time and ability to do this (and fully understand what it takes to do so)? 

In residential construction, there are typically options to pull a homeowner’s permit. This depends on the scope of work and what you are willing to take on as an owner but can eliminate the need entirely for a general contractor. Check with your local jurisdiction and evaluate your time, knowledge and ability to manage it. 

Despite potentially less work for us, we’ll be the first to tell you if you our services don’t make sense if you reach out. 

How can I keep costs down for my project? 

Regardless of if a GC is involved, having a well thought-out (and communicated) plan, schedule, and written commitments from people involved will limit cost and liability. 

• Limiting changes in design and scope as construction progresses will limit costs.  
• Completing work in the correct sequence will limit costs. 
• Managing quality throughout the process will limit costs.  
• Having all required materials ready on their ‘need-by’ date will limit costs.  
• Proper guidance and experience from everyone involved will limit costs and liability. 
• Contractual agreements from those involved will limit costs. 
• Good working relationships, transparency and honesty with the people that do the work will limit costs. 

Can you pull a permit for me?  

Any licensed general contractor can pull a permit for you. A good general contractor will make sure it’s done correctly. These services do cost money and often times, a general contractor’s projected income will be the first to go.  

We offer permitting guidance and assistance but we won’t put our name on work without a level of involved management and a level of confidence of those performing the work. After all, our name is on the work.