What to Know About: General Contractors »
Whether your home needs a complete renovation, or a room needs to be repaired, there are some things to know before you hire.
YP - The Real Yellow PagesSM - helps you find the right local businesses to meet your specific needs. Search results are sorted by a combination of factors to give you a set of choices in response to your search criteria. These factors are similar to those you might use to determine which business to select from a local Yellow Pages directory, including proximity to where you are searching, expertise in the specific services or products you need, and comprehensive business information to help evaluate a business's suitability for you. “Preferred” listings, or those with featured website buttons, indicate YP advertisers who directly provide information about their businesses to help consumers make more informed buying decisions. YP advertisers receive higher placement in the default ordering of search results and may appear in sponsored listings on the top, side, or bottom of the search results page.
General Contractor
Enhance The Beauty Of Your Home!
Call Us Now For More Information.
All Renovations & Repairs!
Local Licensed Experts. Call Now!
Contractor - 30% off
Free estimates - 15 yrs experience
PREFERRED
We moved last year, and our new kitchen needed updating. What can I say? My kitchen remodel definitely exceeded my expectations. Far more than I cou…
I really appreciate the courtesy of the workers and your advice on things that should be done. As a woman homeowner, I depended on your advice. You …
PREFERRED
Serving the Bronx Area.
From Business: North American Dismantling is a leading nationwide demolition contractor specializing in heavy industrial demolition, commercial building strip outs, specialty bu…
35 E 169th StBronx, NY 10452
All around great experience. I have given there number to seveal of my friends. Very neat. Lov it.
PREFERRED
pbrownRusol Contracting recently remodeled my home in Brooklyn. Excellent, professional, beautiful work. Extremely excited about the result. Excel…
266 Bedford Park BlvdBronx, NY 10458
From Business: We are proud to be the premier choice for general contracting in NYC and Westchester County. Our licensed contractors utilize the most advanced methods and we hav…
2190 Reeds Mill LnBronx, NY 10475
From Business: Fencing for residential and commercial properties. Security, privacy, decorative and protective fencing. Custom installation of all types of fencing. Residential,…
Best guys in town did great job made my old house to new must recommend A+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Our study in our NYC townhouse needed a complete overhaul. I did some internet research of a couple companies, but none came close to this one. We s…
3109 Dare PlBronx, NY 10465
366 Canal PlBronx, NY 10451
5900 Arlington Ave Apt 22jBronx, NY 10471
357 E 201st St Apt 6kBronx, NY 10458
1347 Boston RdBronx, NY 10456
2148 Virgil PlBronx, NY 10473
608 Castle Hill AveBronx, NY 10473
Professionally done. Returned in a timely manner if there were any issues.Happy with the services
PREFERRED
We very happy with Nara Construction.They did excellent job.I recommend everybody this honest people and hardworking
They have been treating me very well. They gave me a good price for my roof and did a great job. I will definitely recommend them to my family and f…
they are best contractor in Bronx .ever we found it.they done quality job on roof and front side walk.i am recommended to all
fantastic!!! highly recommended. easy experience all around and great communication the entire way through. great job and super friendly
I called Easy Does It Electrical Company for an emergency. I left a message and someone called me back right away. I told them my problem and was gi…
PREFERRED
Apo Home Improvement was very quick to get the job done at a very affordable price while having a high quality job. I would highly recommend this se…
PREFERRED
Customer Testimonial from N. NJ: "I am a more than satisfied customer and may consider Bath Fitter again to do another bathroom in the future" - …
PREFERRED
They are very professional in there work
Excellent job ,they are professional.guys are good they gave me life time Warrenty and they finished in one day .unbelieveable work !
Native Contracting executed professional mason work and assisted me with a pipe installation. Thank you so much! They have excellent communication, …
They replaced the new shingle roof and brick pointing on my entire house, and they are very punctual and reliable and honest. I recommend every one …
We have been very pleased with the quality of work and professionalism that CHANNEL ROOFING & WATERPROOFING has provided for us. Sam and his team a…
General Contractor
Enhance The Beauty Of Your Home!
Call Us Now For More Information.
General Contractor
Don't Wait Any Longer! Remodel Now.
Service At Great Prices. Call Now.
600 Mace Avenue, Bronx, NY 10467
All Renovations & Repairs!
Local Licensed Experts. Call Now!
Whether your home needs a complete renovation, or a room needs to be repaired, there are some things to know before you hire.
They did my roof They did a great job very friendly and professional I must refer them
Professional, punctual, honest I must refer to friends
Excellent job ,they are professional.guys are good they gave me life time Warrenty and they finished in one day .unbelieveable work !
I called Keystone to have my roof resurfaced, thinking it would be done in two days. They came on time the day it had to be done, and did the entire roof the same day with no problems afterward. The owner was easy to deal with about the cost, and no bargaining to lower it. I would recommend them greatly. George
The crew at JJK Contracting did a great job on my wood flooring and my paint job. I absolutely love my floors thank you guy will use again
I was lucky to meet Mr. Kennedy when I wanted to add a closet in the second bedroom. He and his team did a terrific job and almost three years later, I had the need for additional changes in my home.Living in a rental apartment, changes must be made within management guidelines. I wanted to make better use of the space in my bedroom and ONeil listened to my idea and helped create a terrific new, airy space. Very grateful that he was willing to do a small job that makes such a big difference to me.Now we are going to work on some safe modifications to spaces that recognize that older folk do shrink and need things done to keep independent living as safe and secure as possible.Looking forward to what we do next.Jean Green Dorsey
This is one of the most dishonest contractor we have met, he took our money to do our walkway which he said will take him 3 days, 1 weekend. Took 2/3 of the money for the job, work 2 half days.Never showed up for 2 weeks, had to get someone else to finish the job. Leave the place a mess. A total boldface thief.
We very happy with Nara Construction.They did excellent job.I recommend everybody this honest people and hardworking
Well experience management,I had very good experience with this company.They produce good results,they did my job on time.i will recommend Nara construction."
They are a good honest , reliable company to do work with, they consistency came with one of the lowest bids but have done work above and beyond my expectations... They do not try to gouge you if you add a few items to the project. They painted my entire house , did my stoup and most importantly did not rip me off.... You will be making a mistake if you do not consider this company for your project.....
There has perhaps never been a better tool for do-it-yourself home handymen than the internet. With detailed instructions and videos explaining how to perform a number of common maintenance and renovation tasks around a house, an untrained homeowner might be surprised at how much he or she can accomplish with a quick search online. But even with all of this information, there are still many jobs that lie far outside the scope of most DIY enthusiasts. General contractors are there to fill in this gap.
A general contractor specializes in seeing a home remodel or repair project through from start to finish. To do this, the contractor works with the client - whether they are a homeowner or business - to nail down the scope of the work. Then he or she will turn to one or more subcontractors for specific tasks, like equipment operation, design, electrical work or whatever else is needed.
In essence, general contractors could be thought of as middlemen between a homeowner or business owner and any number of specialists. To get their money's worth, many assume they should just "cut out the middleman" and hire specialists directly, but this often proves more difficult in practice. General contractors won't be completing an entire project by themselves, but should have a long list of dependable experts who can work together and accomplish any task. They might also serve as the manager on the site of a construction project, overseeing workers and providing guidance and assistance when needed. For larger projects, though, the contractor might only handle administrative matters and employ a foreman or other professional for on-site supervision.
There are many general contractors who also specialize in certain tasks themselves. There is usually at least one general contractor on hand to organize the construction of an entire home, for example. But general contractors could also help a homeowner add an additional bedroom, build an in-ground pool or complete a major landscaping project. They could also work with a business to add or improve office space, whether that means making more room or converting a commercial building from a nail salon to a restaurant. Basically, if it's a job that involves building or repairing, a general contractor probably knows how to get it done.
No matter what the exact job may be, a contractor will probably need to accomplish several other essential tasks in pursuit of the ultimate goal, which may include:
Every general contractor performing any kind of work on a project must be licensed to do so in their state. The guidelines for the specifics on licensing vary from state to state. Some states might only require registration of contractors, which is different from licensing. Registration typically means that there must be a written record of what work is being performed and by whom, but it does not guarantee professional knowledge. Licensing, on the other hand, involves an examination process to assess professional competence.
Whether your state requires licensing or registration of contractors, there should be a record of most professionals willing to complete certain projects in your area. Check your state or county website for more information. In states that require licensing, every licensed contractor's contact information is available online or from another public source.
Not every project needs to be completed by a licensed or registered contractor. If it's just a minor job that won't take more than a day or two, and will cost less than a few hundred dollars, it's likely not necessary to find a licensed or registered contractor. However, anything bigger or more expensive, or a project involving plumbing or electrical work, needs to be completed by a licensed or registered professional.
General contractors also must be covered by an insurance policy. This should include liability coverage for any property damage that could be inflicted in the course of a job. It should also include a worker's compensation policy in case anyone is injured on the job. Before hiring a contractor for anything, ask for written proof of this insurance to see exactly what is covered.
A number of trade associations for contractors in the U.S. exist. Some of the biggest include:
Most trade associations for general contractors will provide references for anyone looking to hire a contractor for a specific project. They may also provide a number of benefits for their members, including assistance with licensing, training, insurance and business development.
No matter what you need accomplished, you want to choose a contractor who can get the job done right at a reasonable price. Obviously, this is easier said than done, but there are a few steps you can take to ensure you find a trustworthy general contractor.
The first, and perhaps most reliable, way to find a general contractor is to ask friends and family members for a recommendation. If you know anyone who has had major work done on their home, particularly if it's a similar job, ask them who they hired and if they were pleased with the result. You could also ask neighbors about who they've hired if you notice work being done on their house. Many remodeling contractors post signs in front of homes to advertise their services. As a general rule, it's rarely a good idea to hire a contractor who solicits work by going door to door.
If you are considering hiring a contractor without a personal recommendation, ask the contractor for references from past clients, and do as much background research on them as possible. Look for any complaints (or compliments) online to get a better idea of their track record. There are a number of websites specializing in connecting contractors with people or businesses who need work done. These sites may also allow past clients to submit their own reviews of the contractor.
Before hiring a contractor, make sure you are both in agreement on the project's budget. It's normal for most contractors to charge clients a premium not only for the labor expenses and zoning expertise, but for acquiring the materials as well. Be as clear and concise as possible regarding what you'll be purchasing yourself and what you will be paying the contractor to complete. Homeowners may be able to find a better deal on raw materials when they purchase these directly, but they first need to be sure they aren't buying the wrong things.
Don't forget to discuss how the project will be finalized and what will be done about cleanup. Plans for how the work site will be cleaned at the end of each day as well as at the conclusion of work need to be put in writing. An experienced general contractor should make every effort to keep the workspace clean and prevent dirtying or damaging any other area. Even so, talk with the contractor about the daily schedule, the logistics of transporting workers and equipment, and how cleanup will be handled.
As previously mentioned, you need to make sure to follow any state and local regulations regarding construction work, which includes hiring a licensed or registered general contractor. Ask the contractor for proof of their certification before signing anything, as well as their proof of insurance. You should also check your homeowners insurance policy to see if they offer coverage for contracted work. You may want to call your insurance provider and ask for more details on what your plan will and won't cover.
Perhaps the best way to feel safe about a contractor and the work being done is to hire a contractor you trust. This is why relying on personal references from friends and family is so important, and will often provide a great deal of peace of mind. If you aren't able to obtain a reference, work to conduct extensive research on the contractor as well as the work you are hiring them to perform. This should bring everyone's expectations into alignment and result in a safe work environment.
Before any money changes hands, there should be a contract to sign. Make sure the specifics of the work to be done and all costs are listed in the contract, right down to the most precise details. If you forget to have something included in the contract after signing it, there's rarely a chance of recourse.
Once the specifics of the job are nailed down, be sure to discuss the payment schedule with the contractor. This is important because paying too much up front offers the homeowner minimal leverage if the quality of work does not meet expectations or contractual specifications. Try to establish a reasonable pay schedule with the contractor, such as paying 10 percent of the total cost for each 10 percent of the work that is completed. It's a good idea to include this payment plan in the contract as well.
Finally, look into getting a lien release signed before work begins. If there is ever a dispute regarding payment over the course of the project, a contractor or subcontractor could place a payment claim, or lien, on your property. This can trigger a long legal process that may be frustrating. To avoid this, ask the contractor to sign a lien release, which is a legal agreement that states that any payment accepted is final. This can come in handy if a contractor has his or her own payment issues with their subcontractors. Signing a lien release form certifies that any payment made by a client to the contractor is enough to pay for any goods or services rendered. A lien dispute could also be prevented by performing due diligence prior to picking a contractor, as any contractor with good credit and a long track record of satisfied clients should have no trouble paying for materials and labor once all contract conditions have been met.
Once work is underway, it's never a bad idea to check up on the progress of the job, either by staying in touch with the contractor over the phone or visiting the site in person. If you work with a trustworthy professional, it's probably best to keep your distance and allow everyone to stay busy. If you want to keep an eye on things, make sure workers wear the right safety gear and that everything looks to be moving along according to schedule. Finally, once work is finished and you are satisfied, be sure to thank your contractor and tell friends or family members about your experience.