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.
315 East Robinson Street, Suite 555Orlando, FL 32801
280 S Ronald Reagan Blvd Ste 120Longwood, FL 32750
From Business: Whether you are looking to invest in a new property, need help selling your current one, or anything else real estate-related, I am happy to work with you in achi…
2546 N John Young PkwyKissimmee, FL 34741
From Business: At First International Real Estate, we specialize in the sale of vacation villas, second homes, luxury condos, and townhomes. New builds plus a large selection of…
PREFERRED
Johanna has managed my duplex in Hollywood for four years. In that time there has been few services that we have not needed, including, but by no me…
PREFERRED
13501 Laranja StClermont, FL 34711
From Business: What sets LFT Inc. apart? -Committed to exceeding expectations. -We guide you through the buying/selling process. -Integrity and Ethics is at the forefront of eve…
PREFERRED
My name is Gene Bennett. I am the President of All American Management, having founded the company in 1983.Let’s face it, in the Property Managemen…
DO NOT RENT FROM LPM!!! They will charge you for everything that goes wrong, they will dog you about stupid sh*t, threaten you, and keep all of you…
The hassle free experience we have had in the first year, has shown us that they care about their clients and doing their job professionally.
PREFERRED
2501 S Bumby AveOrlando, FL 32806
From Business: Boutique office catering to your personal Real Estate needs. Our Realtors can help you buy, sell, or manage your residential real estate. Byline - List it Right t…
1223 Edgewater DrOrlando, FL 32804
Our property manager, Amy has always responded quickly to our questions, comments and concerns. Highly recommend to others.
The people are great and were very precise on all aspects about the house. I rented with them and when I had a problem I called and it was taken car…
1488 Seminola BlvdCasselberry, FL 32707
From Business: The Management Philosophy Flarent Inc. realizes the importance of the responsibility they have to their owners, investors and residents. It is their objective to …
133 Marion Oaks Blvd Unit 102Ocala, FL 34473
From Business: Marion Oaks Realty & Property Management Corp helps residents across the Ocala Marion Countywide, FL, area in their search for property. Whether you are looking t…
102 W Pineloch Ave Ste 10Orlando, FL 32806
From Business: Pineloch Management Corporation is a diversified-management company based in Orlando, Fla. Established in 1986, the firm specializes in commercial-real estate for…
1215 Spruce AveOrlando, FL 32824
2295 S Hiawassee Rd Ste 312Orlando, FL 32835
New management is doing their best and very friendly. Nice hard wood floors and spacious apartments... very affordable. I would recommend others to …
2884 S Osceola AveOrlando, FL 32806
From Business: Full Service Residential, Condo & Commercial Property Manager
5950 Hazeltine National Dr Ste 625Orlando, FL 32822
9302 Flowering Cottonwood RdOrlando, FL 32832
8545 Commodity CirOrlando, FL 32819
From Business: Incorporated in 1999, Timeshare Closing Services is a full-service title insurance company. It maintains a fully staffed, in-house legal department that monitors …
2603 Silkwood CirOrlando, FL 32818
1000 Legion Pl Ste 750Orlando, FL 32801
8007 Northlake PkwyOrlando, FL 32827
Whether your home needs a complete renovation, or a room needs to be repaired, there are some things to know before you hire.
Amy is the best! She has always been responsive to my emails and requests. I've had a great experience so far. Highly recommend to others.
These guys did fantastic. My house was left spotless. I have set up a monthly cleaning schedule and I couldn't be any happier.
Stay away if you are a renter. Poor customer service & they won't call you back. I would NOT repeat as a customer.
I have been very pleased with my experience. Kent is on top of things. He is really quick to get someone out to fix somethings if it breaks and answered emails promptly. You guys are a breath of fresh air. Thank you!!
Welcome to American Dream Homes!American Dream Homes, Inc. is a full service real estate and property management company. Our company was established in 2012. We offer comprehensive property management services. If you are an investment property owner looking to rent out your property, or if you are looking for a rental property in the area, we would be happy to assist you
Wilson Property Management has been good. I am happy with the services. Thank you so much for everything!!!
Amy was a wonderful property manager. She was always responsive to our needs and inquiries and seemed to genuinely care about us. The service of Wilson Management Group was excellent. We had a very good experience with this company.
Every time something went wrong or got damage, they send help right away, replied to all email, phone calls every time we had questions. They are the best!!
It was great. We rented from Wilson Management before trying to find any house and it has been excellent.
Sleeping security guards, building gaining code violations and filled with mold, overflowing trash, and FSR's 7th manager in 3 years, they paid FSR over 3 million dollars for 11 full-time employees who aren't trained, and broken vehicle security gates and installed a non working security gate bar years ago and never used it. The WORST management and maintenance since 2006 by FSR! Over 43 buildings and 300+ units not up to codes. hamptonsatmetrowest.blogspot.com
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.