The Benefits Of Hiring A General Contractor For Your Next Renovation

To start off, we’re going to clearly define the difference between a renovation contractor and a general contractor so you have a clearer idea about what we’ll be talking about. 

Renovation contractors are professionals who specialise in home renovation projects. They are responsible for managing and overseeing the entire renovation process from start to finish.

A general contractor, on the other hand, is a professional who oversees and manages all aspects of a construction project, including the hiring of subcontractors and the coordination of all trades involved in the project.

Hiring a general contractor is almost always a good idea (that is, if you find a GOOD and HONEST general contractor. Bidmii can help you with that, just sayin’). Here’s why it can make a huge difference to your renovation experience and the overall process:

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Experience and Expertise

A general contractor that has years of experience in the construction industry has a deep understanding of how renovations work. Having worked on various projects in the past, they’ve likely encountered numerous challenges along the way and know how to deal with them both effectively and efficiently. Renovations can be stockpiled with surprises and issues. You want someone that is able to identify them early on, and comes prepared with solutions. 

Their extensive experience isn’t the only reason they’re good to have on hand, general contractors also have a vast network of subcontractors and suppliers. They’ve likely established relationships with reliable tradespeople who will be vital to your project, whether it be a plumber, or a lumber distributor. Oh, and above all else, they can probably score better rates than you would if you reached out directly.

Experience isn’t just completing a million and one bathroom renovations, experience also means they have a knowledge of building codes and regulations, ensuring your project follows the necessary regulations, permits, and safety standards. 

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Project Management

One of the most significant benefits of hiring a general contractor for your reno project is their ability to manage the entire project from start to finish. Renovation projects can be complex – they involve multiple trades and suppliers, and they require careful planning and coordination to ensure everything is completed on time and within budget. Let’s just say if you’re trying to tackle all of this on your own without any experience, you’re quickly going to get overwhelmed….

So, that’s why you should turn to a general contractor. Typically, they’re responsible for overseeing every aspect of the project – and we mean EVERY aspect, from the initial planning, to the design phase, all the way to the final walk-through. 

Finding a general contractor that you like can be difficult, but imagine having to find all the individual tradespeople. With a general contractor, you won’t have to. They’ll organize all of it – electricians, plumbers, carpenters, painters, and then they will ensure that everyone is on the same page and working towards the same goal on a comprehensive and detailed timeline. The flow of materials and supplies to and from the site will also be managed by the GC too, which is a huge weight lifted off your shoulders. 

I bet you’re wondering “but what about the budget!” well, fear not, a general contractor handles this too (more on this below!). Your relationship with your general contractor needs to be a strong and communicative one, they’re going to help you establish a realistic and comfortable budget, and then closely monitor the flow of money to make sure you’re not left completely depleted of funds. If there’s somewhere you can save money, they’ll flag it. If there’s something they think you could try to DIY, they’ll flag it. 

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Cost Savings

Quite possibly the biggest concern that comes with renovating is the cost. Home renovation projects can quickly become a MASSIVE financial burden, so it’s important to have a budget in place and stick to it. Hiring a general contractor for your home renovation project can actually help you save money in the long run.

A general contractor has the expertise to identify areas where cost savings can be made without sacrificing the quality of the renovation. They can leverage their relationships with suppliers and subcontractors and negotiate better prices and get better deals on materials and labour.

They’re also able to help you find cost-effective alternatives for materials and labour. For example, if you had your heart set on expensive marble countertops for your kitchen renovation project, a general contractor might suggest a similar-looking quartz countertop that fits a little better in your budget.

Another way a GC can help you save money is to provide a rough estimate for the total cost of the renovation before you even get started. They’ve got experience, YEARS of experience doing these sorts of projects, so they know roughly what it will cost. They will take into account all the factors involved in the renovation, including the cost of materials, labour, permits, and any unforeseen expenses. This will help you budget for the renovation and avoid any surprise cost and also help you avoid costly mistakes that can happen during a renovation project. 

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Have we convinced you to hire a general contractor yet? Seriously, for something as financially dependent and permanent as a home renovation, it’s not worth the risk to try and do it alone. If you do, you’ll wind up stressed out, unhappy, and likely out a lot more money than you would be otherwise. As humans, tend to have this “I can do it myself” attitude a lot of the time, but this is the one time where we’re seriously telling you… no… you can’t just do it yourself. 

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