How To Choose A Contractor

Your architecture firm can do more than create your design. They can walk you through the entire process of planning, designing, and building your new house, including how to choose a contractor.

Our number-one piece of advice is to remember that your relationship with your contractor will be long-lasting and personal. When they’re building your home, you will communicate constantly. Their communication style, working style, and personality just are as important—or even more important—than the numbers.

What Does A General Contractor Do?

Your general contractor will oversee your building project, making sure that it’s done in a way that’s safe, timely, and in compliance with codes and specifications. You can hire an individual or a firm to do this work.

What's The Process For Choosing A General Contractor?

Here’s what the process of choosing a general contractor looks like when you work with us.

Gather Options

The first step in choosing a contractor is to gather recommendations and look into each contractor’s qualifications, reviews, past work, and reputation.

As you’re gathering names, keep in mind that many contractors, especially smaller outfits, don’t have a digital presence and rely on word-of-mouth referrals.

If you’re working with us, we can recommend one to three contractors who we trust and who we think will fit your project and your working style. But the ultimate decision about who to hire is completely up to you. We will never mandate who you work with.

Gather Information & Narrow Your List

Once you’ve identified a handful of contractors who peak your interest, it’s time to examine their work.

• Find examples of their past projects and see if yours fits in.

• Find out if people enjoyed working with them, both past clients and tradespeople. If so, why? What are the best parts of their working style?

• Are past clients satisfied with their work?

Now take this information and compare it with what you need. Ask yourself if you’re excited to work with them—for them to build your house but also to partner with you throughout the process. As you’re considering your choices, identify whether, for instance, you’re the type of person who would like a lot of documentation, only wants to be contacted once milestones are reached, or would rather not know anything until the whole project is done.

Once you’ve answered these questions, a few contractors will float to the top. This is your short list.

Interview Contractor Candidates

Once you have a short list, we can interview candidates with you.

At time of interview, contractor candidates will have already been given renderings, the general schedule, estimates for major parts of the project, and other pertinent information. They should arrive prepared to answer your in-depth questions.

Our List Of Questions To Ask A Contractor Candidate

Here’s our basic list of questions for contractor finalists.

Construction

• How frequently are you on site for supervision?

• Do you assign a superintendent?

• What do you self-perform?

• Are you using local sub-contractors?

Change Orders/Communication

• How do you handle owner changes?

• How do you handle unforeseen changes?

• How do you handle questions in the field? Via email, call, meeting, or builder trend?

• What do your updates look like? Do you send daily photos? A weekly document? Meet in person regularly? Do you include the architect in these communications?

Confirm Any Design Changes Or Edits With Owners

Fees/Billing

• Describe your contract structure (time and materials or fixed fee)

• What is your preferred payment schedule?

• How many rounds of pricing do you typically do?

Sustainability (for passive, net zero, or other sustainable projects)

• Have you previously built high-performance buildings with low air leakage? If not, are you willing to learn?

Timeline

• What is your estimate for how long this project would generally take once permits are in hand?

• Do you provide a detailed schedule with deadlines?

Decision Time

Once you have all your questions answered, it’s time to hire someone.

Remember, if all things are equal, go with the contractor you think you can work with, someone you think you can get along with, someone you can trust. And if you’re still not sure, you can always lean on your architect’s experience.

© Artisans Group Architecture + Planning — Sustainable Architecture, Passive House, and Passive Building Design Experts