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Many people often ask us why there is a need to hire a General Contractor when building a house or renovating. It is a very important question and a very large part of building a house. It is wonderful that we live in a world of do-it-yourselfers and that is great when taking on small projects, but many times people unknowingly get in over their heads when trying to build their own home. To help you understand why it is important to hire a general contractor, here is a short list of reasons we believe having contractors will make you happier with your new home:

Knowledge

The first thing on the list may be the most important. Knowledge is irreplaceable in the house building process. If something is done incorrectly, it could be catastrophic for you in the long run. A general contractor’s job is to know the industry inside and out. In our case, our staff provides much of the labor on the project, so we have direct professional experience in getting the job done correctly. For example, if you do not know if your foundation was poured correctly, how can you stop the house from being built on a faulty structure? We are here to make sure everything is done right, in a timely manner and how you would like it. We are also responsible for knowing building codes, appropriate materials, proper construction methods and safety. We need to know everything so you can rest easy.

Staff and Subcontractors

In addition to having knowledge, a general contractor has a team of subcontractors. We are a unique company in Iowa City in that we provide much of the labor ourselves. What we don’t do ourselves, we hire out to subcontractors that are very reputable and that work for us on all of our builds. Because we provide so much work to our subcontractors, we get the industries very best and reliable companies. When you build your own house, it is hard to get the good sub-contractors because they are too busy and hard to get scheduled. In addition to having access to the subcontractors, we are also professionals at managing lots of people and keeping things running smoothly and efficiently

Piece of Mind

This one is a big reason most people hire a contractor. When you hire a general contractor they provide a license, insurance and worker’s compensation. If you act as the general contractor yourself, you assume liability for injuries and property damage. This is a big weight of your shoulders and allows for you to worry about the important things, like how the house will come together.

Time and Money

Lastly, being a general contractor takes a lot of time and effort. From the estimate process to cleaning the construction site, we are responsible for a lot of behind the scenes projects that people don’t even realize. If you take on the building process yourself, it can consume all of your free time and adds an unneeded stress to building. In addition to your time, we get better pricing on materials which in turn saves you money you spent by hiring a contractor.

These are just a few of the reasons hiring a general contractor can benefit you! If you are looking to learn more about the house building process or have a renovation, please contact us today as we are happy to help.