A General Contractor Can Give You a New Bathroom

As a general contractor, we understand how critical bathrooms can be to the functionality of a home. While this is a room that does not get a lot of attention, and most people don't spend time talking about, your bathroom is one of the hardest-working rooms in your house. If you have a large family and only a couple of bathrooms, this room is working double duty and is probably very rarely empty. With the amount of people needing to brush their teeth, take a shower, get ready for school or work, and use the restroom, your bathroom never stops doing its job. But what if your bathroom is simply too small for all of the demands that are placed on it? What if your bathroom is too crowded or simply too outdated? In this scenario, it is highly likely that your family is undergoing undue stress due to the inefficiency of your bathroom.  The good news is that we can remodel your bathroom, expand it, and even give you a new one so that your family can get ready in style.

Remodel Your Bathroom to Increase the Efficiency of It

If you do not have the budget or the space to do an extension, it is possible for you to remodel your bathroom and to make it more efficient in the process. When we visit your home we will look at your space, discuss what your needs are, take measurements, and come up with solutions. We are solutions-oriented and as a general contractor, there is nothing that we cannot do.

Some of the easy ways that we can improve the efficiency of your space is to replace a single sink and vanity with a dual sink vanity combination. While you may be losing a little bit of counter space, you will be gaining the ability to have multiple people brush their teeth or get ready at the same time. This alone can make the morning routine go much faster and more smoothly. Another way to improve the efficiency of your space is to rearrange everything. Sometimes, for example, there's enough space for us to make a toilet closet. By placing the toilet into its own little room you can have someone going to the restroom in privacy while someone else is doing their hair or brush their teeth without them ever physically being in the same place - this may not require an extension.  In some cases making your bathroom more efficient is as simple as updating everything and adding more storage solutions. Regardless of what is required, we can help to create a plan that is going to make your life easier.

A General Contractor Can Complete an Addition

If you have the space to add on to your home we encourage you to do so. We can give you a new master bathroom or guest bathroom that will make your morning and evening routine much easier. The additional space can really alleviate a lot of stress and complications that can come from juggling schedules.

If you want to learn about the options available for your bathroom call our office to speak with a general contractor today.

Why Hiring a General Contractor Is Better than Hiring Your Own Subcontractors

For many home or business owners, it’s tempting just to find your own subcontractors and leave a general contractor out of the picture. Many people believe this is easier, less expensive, and makes more sense. However, a general contractor has connections, expertise, and planning and organizational abilities that will become assets to your building project in the near future.

Connections

While general contractors specialize in running the show, hiring subcontractors, and getting the job completed from start to finish, subcontractors specialize in very specific areas like plumbing, masonry, framing, electricity, and even concrete work. You may think you know plenty of subcontractors to hire the right ones yourself, but we guarantee we will think of details you may not realize could come up later, and we know the best in the business who will complete a job the right way in a timely fashion. If you hire subcontractors on your own, you could get taken advantage of financially. We know who charges what for their work and who can provide you with a more accurate budget for your building project, so you never have to worry about “surprise” costs. Since we have been in the business so long, we know the best subcontractors who will be worth every penny you spend.

In addition to people connections, a general contractor is also responsible for providing all the equipment needed to build your project. If you hire subcontractors on your own, you may end up having to acquire special rentals or tools that you otherwise wouldn't have needed access to, so instead of spending more unnecessary money, let us handle it for you.

Expertise

Most general contractors have built hundreds of homes, if not thousands. We understand challenges will occur, and we know how to handle any problem no matter what size. We are able to see the bigger picture when you are concerned about the details and become stressed about the little things. We can remind you that there is always a way to remedy a problem, and we know who to contact to provide a solution.

You will hire your general contractor while you are planning the building of your home or business, and we will help you come up with original ideas, budgeting strategies, building materials, and a finalized blueprint. From there, we will guide you and all the subcontractors to the finished product, keeping everyone on task and happy, so you don’t have to deal with begrudged, injured, or confused workers. Basically, a general contractor does all the dirty work, so you don’t have to.

Hiring a general contractor is always a better decision than hiring your own subcontractors for any building project, no matter how big or small it may be. Many people get in over their heads trying to handle projects like this without the tremendous help of a contractor. To schedule a time to meet to discuss your dream home, contact our office.

What Does a General Contractor Do?

A general contractor is hired by the owner of the property (typically, you) to complete a project from start to finish. When you enter a contract with a general contractor, they are taking responsibility for the entire project, which means they will take on responsibility for all elements of the project. This includes the financial responsibility of getting the project done within the budget agreed upon. Naturally, there are always contingencies, but for the most part, your general contractor will give you an estimate and stick to it closely. At the same time, the general contractor is also responsible for getting the project done in a timely manner without causing you a great deal of undue stress. The general contractor purchases all the supplies, hires the tradespeople and engages the subcontractors.

What Are a General Contractor’s Key Responsibilities?

The general contractor is fundamentally responsible for the entire project, which makes it critically important that you make a great decision when hiring the general contractor. Some of the areas the general contractor will focus on include:

Hiring and Managing the Subcontractors: When there is a large job or even a smaller one, there is going to be a number of smaller jobs. When you put in or renovate a kitchen, for example, there will be plumbing work, electrical work, counters and masonry work, cabinetry, etc. It is very important that you have the right subcontractors and make sure that if you get these individuals, they are the responsibility of your general contractor. Additionally, the general contractor sets a schedule for paying the subcontractors and makes sure you approve. Typically, this is time-based and also based on progress as the work is completed. As such, the general contractor will negotiate the contracts for the subcontractors, hire them, and set forth the terms.

Getting Permits and Inspections: Any time you have a project that involves changing or building anything, you will need permits for all the work. The general contractor is responsible for getting the permits in a timely manner so the work can proceed. To do this, they will need to be intimately involved with the planning process and know exactly how to get the permits you need. In addition to this, the project will need periodic inspections based on how far along each aspect of the job is. Often, you cannot proceed to the next phase of a job until the inspections have been completed. The general contractor is responsible for scheduling the inspectors to visit, making sure your site is ready, and making changes if for some reason you do not pass.

Supplies and Materials: The general contractor will be responsible for ordering the supplies you need to complete the jobs. To that end, they will order supplies based on what the job needs and ensure that your subcontractors do not run out of the materials you need. All this should be included in the quote you get from the general contractor before you make a hiring decision.

Make Room for Grandma With Help From a General Contractor

As a general contractor, we are experts at providing home remodeling solutions.  Whatever the needs of your family are, we can help.  We are solution oriented and it is important that your home suits your family’s needs so that you can enjoy your time there and feel comfortable, rather than stressed out due to a lack of functionality or space constraints.  One challenge that many families have is finding space for extended family, whether they are visiting for a month or needing to move in.  We can create a space for both.

As a general contractor, our home remodeling solutions can make space for extended family. To create a design for your home, we need to visit with you, take a tour and look at your property to determine what options might be available.  One thing to consider is who is going to stay at your home and how long they plan to be there.  This is important because if your guests will only be staying off and on, you may want to create a space that can be repurposed in their absence.  For example, Grandma may come to stay for a month around the holidays but if she only visits once a year, you won’t want an empty room the rest of the time.  

We will frequently build an addition that serves as a guest suite for short-term out of town guests.  To make the room dual purpose, we can make the bed a Murphy bed that pulls down from the wall. You can put it in place before they come so that the room is all set up, and when they leave, it folds back into the wall so that you can use the space differently.  This often works well as a combined at-home office/guest suite or as a craft room.  We can build in a reserved closet for your guests’ clothes with an entirely separate closet or storage center that can be used for the items that need to be stored on a daily basis.  This way the space can have designated zones rather than storing your craft supplies in the same closet that grandma needs to hang her winter sweaters.  Additionally, the benefit of using a Murphy bed is that if you do need a space like a home office for daily use, it can serve one purpose during the day and another at night while still giving your guests privacy.

Get creative with our home remodeling solutions.

If your visitors are planning on becoming permanent or semi-permanent house guests, you may want to consider a different type of solution.  If, for example, Grandma is moving in, we recommend giving her a separate entrance into her suite or unit.  That way she can maintain some level of autonomy.  You can easily do this with a ground level addition, and we can create a path leading to the door from your driveway area.  If you have a walkout basement or are building a garage apartment, this is also a possibility.  As a general contractor, we also recommend that you turn it into a one bedroom or a studio with a kitchenette.  While small, this can make life a little easier so that she can have her own snacks and things to prepare small meals if she, or you, would like some alone time. 

Hire a General Contractor to Create a New Space In Time For Summer

As a general contractor, we are in the business of creating beautiful spaces.  Whether you want a new home built, are looking to build an extension or simply want to remodel – we can help.  It is important that you hire someone with a contractor’s license because, in order to get one, you must be bonded and insured. This means that if you hire a contractor and they don’t finish the job, you can go after their bond or insurance policy.  That’s a good thing because a contractor doesn’t want that ever to happen and, therefore, is motivated to ensure that the job is done right.  However, if you hire someone that doesn’t have these credentials, they won’t have the same motivation, and you will have fewer protections, as a result. 

If you don’t like your home, now is an excellent time to create a new space just in time for summer.  We understand that for many of our clients, the way that their home looks and functions is beyond important.  This is especially true if you have a family and spend a lot of your time at home.  We can be sure that your home reflects the changing needs of your family and that it looks amazing.  

As a general contractor, we have a lot of creative ways to give you more space, including:

• Building a sunroom.  This is an ideal solution that can be used year-round.  With a wall full of windows, a sunroom gets a lot of natural light and can be an excellent place to read a good book or have lunch with your friends.  We recommend that your sunroom be as comfortable as your family room, only light and airy. 
• Create a screened porch.  If you want to extend your living space and have an indoor/outdoor feel, create a screened in porch.  We can build one next to the kitchen with cathedral ceilings for aesthetics, a ceiling fan for comfort, a tile floor for practicality, etc.  Your screened porch can be an extension of your living space and a beautiful addition to any home.
• Create a master retreat.  If you aren’t using all of the bedrooms in your home, consider what you would do with a master retreat.  It is unnecessary to have a bunch of room sitting unused and waiting for a guest.  You use your bedroom every day so you should be comfortable and enjoy it. By combining more than one room, we can expand the footprint of your master before turning it into a little paradise.  Once that is done, we can also expand your master bathroom to create a luxurious space.
• Finish your basement.  One of the easiest way to transform your home is to hire a general contractor to finish your basement.  We are always looking for creative ways to make your home more functional, and your basement is a prime way for doing so.  The footprint already exists, so it is a simple matter or finishing the interior as you like.

Why You Should Hire a General Contractor Instead of a Handyman

For many homeowners, it can be difficult to know the difference between a general contractor and the local handyman.  With both adverstising the ability to do home repairs and remodeling, many people get confused and simply hire the first person they come across or someone advertising a special rate. Unfortunately, this can get you into a lot of trouble.  For most families, their home is their largest and most expensive asset.  As such, it is unwise to risk it by working with someone that can’t get the job done right. 

The Local Handyman
When a person puts themselves out to be a handyman, they may or may not have any professional training.  This is based on the individual but certainly none is required to fulfill this role.  They may be someone that did small jobs here and there and decided to go into business for themselves.  Additionally, many handymen are not licensed or bonded as a contractor.  This means that if they don’t finish the job or do it incorrectly, there is no bond to go after. They can work by themselves or as part of a franchise. 

The General Contractor
In order to become a general contractor, you must go through training. In fact, many general contractors have either an associate or bachelor degree in construction management.  After obtaining this classroom training, most will then enter an apprenticeship program or work as an assistant to gain on the job experience before becoming an official general contractor.  This is a high ranking position within the construction industry because a general contractor knows how to complete the work but more importantly, coordinates it.  A general pulls together all of the other tradesmen to get the job completed correctly, on time, and on schedule.  For example, they coordinate the electrician, plumber, carpenter, and tile worker for a bathroom remodel.  A general contractor is also bonded and insured in order to provide additional protection for homeowners. 

The difference between a handyman and general contractor are vast.  It would be similar to working with someone trained in first aid and a certified nurse or doctor.  One has the skills necessary to tackle basic and common issue while the other is trained to handle more complicated cases and understand all aspects of what must be done.  As a homeowner, it is important to hire someone that you can trust to get the job done correctly so when interviewing people, be sure to ask if they are a general contractor. 

It is also important to note that when a company is bonded and insured, you have protections under the law.  If, for example, you hire someone to remodel your kitchen and they start, but never finish, you can go after their bond. General contractors have one, so this can give you additional confidence. Most handymen, do not have a bond so if they don’t finish the job your best option will be to pursue them in small claims court.  This is one additional reason you should work with a general contractor for any major home repair or remodel. 

A General Contractor Can Improve the Value of Your Home

If you want to increase your home’s value, speak with a general contractor.  There are many ways that you can turn an outdated home into a beautiful and updated one.  By focusing on specific areas of your home, you can improve the value at the same time.  The key is to put your money into areas that will count towards increasing your value.  For example, adding extravagant wall finishings may look spectacular but may not add any more value than a fresh coat of paint would.

We build and remodel homes on a regular basis and understand how to allocate a remodeling budget in order to increase the value of your home.  Here is what you need to know:

Spend the money on your kitchen.

The kitchen is one of the most popular rooms in a home and also the most expensive.  When you remodel it, buyers will notice, and the value of your home will go up at resale.  We suggest tearing down walls in your kitchen to make it open and airy.  Open concept floor plans are extremely popular, and we can knock down walls in order to create a kitchen, dining room and family room combination space.  As a general contractor, we recommend replacing your appliances as well so that buyers will see the updated fixtures, cabinets and appliances as a complete package.

Focus on your bathrooms.

Bathrooms are easy to remodel because they are such small places.  You can buy a new vanity, sink, mirror, and toilet along with replacing the flooring and painting the walls in order to completely transform your space.  A bathroom can be updated quickly, and the results are dramatic.  When you spend money on your bathroom, you will get it back when you sell your home.

Expand your footprint.

Creating additional square footage is the best way to increase the value of your home.  When building an addition, consider adding at least one bedroom and one bathroom.  This will increase your home’s value because each of those rooms is assigned a high dollar amount in an appraisal.  Even if you are using the space for a study or library, by building in a closet it will technically be a bedroom.

Finish your basement.

This is an easy way to have more finished space without spending a ton of money.  Since the walls and floors are already in place, all you need to do is finish it in order to have additional rooms that your family can spend time in. If your basement is all below grade, the value will be less than if you added square footage to the rest of the home, but the cost will be less as well.

As a general contractor, there are additional things we can do to add value such as replacing your windows and roof.  These are more structural issues, but they will make your home look newer and the windows will provide additional insulation in the winter and the summer which helps with energy efficiency.  To learn more about what you can do to improve the value of your home, give us a call.