Insurance

Secrets to Choosing The Right General Contractor

If you are considering a housing project, you probably have two main goals: you have to do it the first time and get the best possible value. As a professional in the industry for over 30 years, I have helped many clients achieve their goals. I have also heard and seen horror stories from people who chose the wrong construction company because they did not know what to look for in a general contractor. To make sure that does not happen to you, here are the top 5 success secrets for choosing the right general contractor for your next project:

Good communication skills and proper insurance coverage

Successful construction projects depend on proper contractor’s insurance coverage and good communication. You need a general contractor who can listen to you and communicate very clearly. If you live in the great state of Texas be sure to choose a company with Dallas contractor liability insurance When you meet with one of the companies you look at, be sure to listen to what you tell them and to be able to express themselves clearly when talking about your project.

Shared Vision

Choose a general contractor who can see your vision for the project and stay true to that vision. Many construction companies listen to your ideas and then make changes that increase the cost of the project, reduce costs, or just customize their preferences rather than your own. Make sure your contractor is committed to fulfilling your dreams for your project as much as possible, and that you are putting your best interests beyond his interest.

Financial Transparency

One of the biggest complaints I’ve heard from people who have worked with contractors in the past was that they had a budget at the beginning of the process and had to pay much more at the end of the job. Many times they have not even realized that their project has crossed the budget. For this reason, you would like to ask a contractor you would like to work with to see if you can be informed in good time of any changes in project costs and to approve these changes in advance.

Professional supervision

Some general contractors are happy to accept a new construction project and then delegate supervision of the project to other workers. To ensure that the result is in line with the vision you have set out for your contractor, it is important that he is on-site every day to ensure the vision is followed. Be sure to ask a general contractor you consider when he or she is committed
Every step of the way is there to make sure your project goals are fully met.

Manageable Work-Load

Always hire a general contractor who does not take more than he can chew. I learned early on in this business that the way to give customers the best service is to limit the number of projects I take on at a given time. It’s OK to work on more than one project but be sure that your contractor pays close attention to your project to finish it on time and get it done the first time.

Whether you build a new residential or commercial building, make a supplement or rebuild part of your home or office – your project is too important to risk choosing the wrong general contractor. Follow these secrets of success, and you will end up much sooner with a result that you are passionate about, and a fantastic experience on your way.

Contractor Bonds

Top 7 Home Building Ideas That will Make Your House Look Awesome

Anything which is constructed by us matters a lot and so does how we construct it. Constructing a property is an investment which is meant to last for quite some time. As a result, one should make it a point to plan properly thinking of the future ahead.  It might be the fact that your family is growing and also you would like to have some more room for entertainment. Taking these aspects into consideration will help you in making wise decisions in building your dream house. In the subsequent paragraphs, we are going to mention some essential home building ideas.Contractors on the west coast should be sure to carry a California contractor bond in order to protect themselves and their clients.

1. Raked Ceilings

Raked ceilings which are also known as Cathedral ceilings happen to be an important design feature which is slowly becoming popular these days. Apart from providing your house with an enhanced appearance, they will also enable you to create feature pieces from the ceiling, for example, exposed beams.

2. Pitched roofs and High Ceilings

Most of the residences are going to be complimented tremendously by these pitched roofs which are rather conventional in appearance. Moreover, they are at an advantageous position as compared to the flat roofs since stagnant water will not be able to gather on top and if built properly will last for a considerable period. Always speak with a licensed contractor before moving forward with any sizable construction projects. Also, bear in mind that high ceilings will allow you to generate a genuine feeling of space and will be a feature that will attract the attention of your guests.

3. Led Lightings

It is one of the most in-demand building ideas for the majority of the homes these days. In fact, LED lighting has got a very long life, and is also quite flexible as well as energy efficient. Because of their flexibility, it is possible to place them in virtually any area of the room according to your preference.

4. Granite Benchtops

At present, granite bench tops have become a trend for the majority of the kitchens and should continue to be so for the next few decades. The attractive appearance of the stone makes it look awesome, and these will be appreciated by anyone who visits your house. Apart from this, the Granite Benchtops are also resistant to heat and scratches and are going to last for a long time if properly maintained. Although it is a bit expensive, it is well worth the cost.

5. Timber Flooring

Timber flooring, just like the granite bench tops, is also another trendy home-building idea. You will come across an array of timber flooring and other similar products on the market, and you will surely find one who is going to fit your budget.

6. Free-Standing Baths

Nowadays, free-standing baths have become immensely popular in many houses all over the world. You will get the opportunity to be more creative in positioning a free-standing bath, and you can also show your talent in the manner you frame it.

7. Heated floors

Heated floors are one of the essential home building ideas which will surely increase the value of your property in case you would like to sell it in future. There are lots of benefits related to them, and these are ideal for those locations which experience chilly weather during the cold months.

Contractor Bonds

Why Does California and Other State Require Construction Bonds

The title sounds like it deserves a punchline, doesn’t it? On a serious note, why does California and other states require construction bonds? The idea seems a bit extreme. It is almost as if you are expecting someone to mess up in some form or another. (Nice to know there’s trust between client and contractor). Well, get yourself a nice drink of whatever and settle down to learn why this is the case. Sure it may not seem fair to the contractors or the clients to the contractors, but their job is to make the project work. That’s just business.

What is a construction bond?

From my quick check, the construction bond is a guarantee between a group of three parties and states responsibilities of each party should the project go awry. (On a side note, in construction this happens a lot). This is designed to benefit the investors from harmful financial issues.  Here is a brief overview of the different types.

What do they cover?

As they are tailored around the performance of a construction project, this will cover three main points:
• Event that causes a disruption
• Unable to reach specification
• Bankruptcy of builders

Let’s go through each one in a bit more depth.

Event that causes a disruption

This will typically be between the contractors and the client without the input of the investor. (After all, all the investor is interested in is the financial reward). If the client, contractor start to become hostile and unresponsive to each other and this comprises the schedule of the project it’s not the investors fault. So, they shouldn’t be expected to be responsible for this and, as a result, there’s no need for them to pay. Seems reasonable.

Unable to reach specification

Why should the investor pay if the job isn’t right? If it’s not what they asked for, why are you expecting them to pay? That is just illogical. They asked for something, you messed up, you clean up.

Bankruptcy of Builders

From my experience, being bankrupt shows you might not be the most able person financially and therefore the investor shouldn’t be relied up to be bail the contractors out. Consequently, they are protected and hold no legal responsibility if such event should occur during the project.

To wrap It all Up

That is a whistle stop tour about my California and other states have a construction bond. The bottom line is the investors don’t want to clear up the mess of everyone else. In all fairness this seems reasonable and hence by the bond is in place.

Contractor Bonds

A Contractor Bond is an Investment in Your Business

All businesses need surety and assurance nowadays since it will help protect you as the owner and your business. The thing that will help keep your business safe is by investing in a contractor bond so you can easily evaluate and manage all the risk of your construction projects.  A contractor bond is an investment in your business and not an expense.

How Does A Contract Bond Work?

The project owner seeks your services as a contractor. You will have to meet their requirements to fulfill the contract. But before starting the job, you should first get a surety or contractor bond from a surety company, in fact a contractor bond may be a requirement to bid. The contractor bond enables you to enter into the contract safely and protect your business.

A contractor bond helps screen out unqualified contractors, which makes it a good investment in your business. However, it is not easy to obtain a contractor bond since you have to undergo a prequalification process to determine if you are capable of fulfilling the given contract.

What Are The Contractor’s Obligations?

You, as the contractor, are backed up by the surety company. The deal includes your performance according to the terms and conditions of the contract. It is also your duty to pay your subcontractors, laborers, and suppliers.

Types of Contractor Bonds

The first is the Bid Bond. The benefit of the Bid Bond is that you are guaranteed to enter the contract with the owner and perform as required and furnish the payment bond.

The second is the Payment Bond. This type of contractor bond ensures that all subcontractors, laborers, and suppliers are paid for all the labor and materials supplied to you and used for the project.

The third is the Performance Bond. Signing the performance bond guarantees that you will follow all the terms and conditions written in the contract with the owner.

The fourth and last is the Maintenance Bond. This contractor bond covers some period, usually a year, after finishing the job. Maintenance Bond ensures that no defective material or workmanship will appear during this period.

Work With A Reliable Surety Company

A contractor bond can be a little costly depending on the amount of the construction project. But it is a good investment to help protect your business and increase your likelihood of getting projects. Before accepting a contractor bond, make sure that you only work with reputable surety companies to ensure you are purchasing legitimate bonds and contracts.

In the case problems arise, it is very important to have a contractor bond. The surety company will help you overcome the challenges with the help of accountants, attorneys, and engineers. In different situations from loss of a key member, sudden changes in site conditions, or some financial issues, the surety company will put their expertise and knowledge upfront to minimize losses and help accomplish the job the satisfaction of both project owner and contractor.