Whether you’re renovating your Maple Ridge home or searching for a general contractor to help you build the perfect custom home, using a little caution makes sense. There are certainly some horror stories out there, but if you do your homework, you’ll find that most are reputable, professional and looking out for the best interest of the customer.

Price is a consideration for every person embarking on a home renovation or considering their options when it comes to building custom, so it’s important to get an accurate quote from your general contractor. The best way to do this is by walking into your meetings prepared. Have a solid idea about design plans, drawings and detailed information. If you’re building a home in Maple Ridge, figure out where you’re planning to build before moving on to finding your general contractor. While there’s nothing wrong with asking a design and construction professional to assist with these preliminary steps, keep in mind that it’ll really be difficult for any professional to give you an accurate price quote until you know some of these specifics.

As in many other fields, there are lots of great building professionals in Maple Ridge. When it comes to building, the key is to figure out which one is the right choice for you. If a general contractor specializes in kitchen renovations and you’re planning to add a second story, they’re probably not the right fit. The same holds true if you’re only interested in a smaller home renovation but your contractor’s expertise is in luxury retail spaces. While these professionals certainly have skill and knowledge, they typically spend their days working on projects that are very different than yours, and their skill set simply won’t match up to what you need to get the job done correctly, on time and on budget.

Many home renovations and especially a custom built home involve various specialties throughout the course of the project. They might include woodworkers, plumbers, electricians and other trades people. On paper, it might look like you’ll save money by simply contacting all of these individuals directly and managing the project yourself. In reality, the amount of time and hassle you’ll have to dedicate to getting the job usually isn’t worth it. Hire a Maple Ridge general contractor to oversee all the work, act as your single point of contact and take responsibility if something isn’t done right. This person will also likely have leverage when it comes to securing lower prices on sub-contractors and materials, making them even more cost effective than you expected.

After you’ve found your general contractor, step aside a bit and let them manage the project. This doesn’t mean that you should walk away from the project entirely. In fact, transparency and involvement go a long way toward helping you to achieve your final goal of a beautiful home. Your goal should be to turn to this person when you have questions or concerns. Rather than approaching a sub-contractor directly, ask your project manager’s opinion about the situation.  

Also, let your builder make decisions about how many people will be on site, when materials are delivered and when to schedule inspections. This will help to eliminate any blurred responsibilities and make the project much less stressful for you and your family.

Even when letting your general contractor manage the project, your involvement remains important. If you see something you don’t like, have a question about anything or have preferences about who to work with or what materials to use, be specific. Your Maple Ridge general contractor is a professional, but he is not a mind reader. By letting him know what you’re thinking in specific details, you can prevent misunderstandings and give your builder the best shot at getting the job done right.

If you’re ready to build or renovate a home in Maple Ridge, one of the most important decisions you’ll make is who to hire as a general contractor. Take some time to carefully consider your options, and stay organized and honest once you’ve made a final choice. This will help you to get the outcome you’re hoping for while reducing needless costs and frustrations too.