These are his top 8 tips to help you choose a general contractor Myrtle Beach SC.

Get Recommendations for General Contractor Myrtle Beach SC

Begin with family members and friends, then contact the National Association of the Remodeling Industry to get a list of members from your area. Talk to an inspector who will know which contractors meet the code. Tom Silva, general contractor at This Old House, suggests that you also visit your local lumberyard. They regularly see contractors and are able to tell which contractors buy high-quality materials and pay their bills on schedule.

Conduct phone interviews

Dawol Homes suggests that once you have a list, you call each prospect and ask these questions:

• Are they willing to take on your project?
• Do they want to provide financial references that come from their banks or suppliers?
• Do they have a list of clients that they have served?
• What other projects could they be working on simultaneously?
• What is the average time they have worked with subcontractors?

These questions will tell you about the company’s reliability, availability, ability to pay attention to your project, and how smooth the work will be.

Meet Face to Face

Take the telephone interviews and pick 3-4 contractors to meet face-to-face for further discussion and estimates. This also applies to custom home builders. You should feel comfortable asking questions and feeling at ease. Tom suggests that communication is key because the contractor will be visiting your home for many hours at a stretch. Don’t let your personality fool you. Before you hire a contractor, check with your state’s consumer agency and the Better Business Bureau to ensure that they haven’t had any disputes with clients or subcontractors.

Explore the Facts

Once you have narrowed down your list, it’s time to put your research into action. Ask former clients for feedback and to see the final product of their  new home construction. Tom warns that you should not rely solely on the results. You should also visit the job site to see how the contractor operates. Is the job site clean and safe? Are the workers respectful of the property?

Make plans, get bids

Now you have a short list of home builders with clean track records and an ethical work ethic. It’s now time to look forward and not back at the past. Contractors will need to have a set of blueprints, as well as a good idea of the homeowners’ expectations and budget. Ask everyone to breakdown the costs of materials, labor and profit margins in order to compare bids. Materials account for 40% of total costs. Overhead and the typical profit margin are 15 to 20%.

Create a payment schedule

A payment schedule is an important tip when hiring contractors. A contractor’s work ethic as well as financial situation can be reflected in their payment schedules. They may ask for half of the bid upfront, or they might be concerned that you won’t pay the remainder after they have seen the work. A schedule for large projects usually includes 10 percent at contract sign, three equal payments of 25% over the project’s duration, and a check for the remaining 15% when you feel that every item has been completed.

Don’t Let Price Be Your Guide

Tom says, “Don’t accept a low bid.” “This general contractor is likely cutting corners or even worse, very desperate to work,” says Tom. This is not a good sign for a thriving economy. Comfort should be as important or more than technical competence in when making a decision. Communication between you and your contractor is the most important aspect of selecting a general contractor. It’s best to spend more on a contractor you really feel comfortable with.

It should be written

A contract should detail all of the steps of project. It should include a schedule of payment, evidence for liability insurance and the worker’s compensation payments, a beginning date and the expected completion dates; the specific materials to be used and a requirement for the contractor to obtain lien releases (which will protect you if he fails to pay his bills). Tom assures that insisting on a clear contract does not mean you are putting your trust in others. It’s about ensuring a successful renovation.

Remember that once a change is made, or a problem is discovered, the cost of the project will increase and get longer. These are the four most costly words in English. “While you’re at It ….”

Call Dawol Homes now if you are looking for a custom home builder for your new home construction. 

Find great home tips on our Facebook page

Dawol Homes
9404 Hwy 17 Bypass,
Murrells Inlet, SC 29576
(843) 294-2859

Dawol Homes Sales Office
3100 Dick Pond Rd # E
Myrtle Beach, SC 29588
843-294-2859

We build homes in: Cypress River Plantation, Waterway Palms, Waterbridge, Murrells Inlet, Collins Creek, Bellwood Landing, Carolina Forest, Plantation Lakes, North Myrtle Beach, Socastee, Surfside Beach, Pawleys Island, Litchfield Plantation