Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on HomeGuide.
How much do local general contractors charge?
General contractors charge10% to 20% of the total construction cost, known as "cost-plus." Some building contractors charge a flat fee based on the project but rarely charge an hourly rate. Home improvement contractors pay on your behalf for all materials, subcontractors, services, and permits.
What does a residential general contractor do?
Licensed general contractors manage and coordinate the entire building process. A general contractor estimates the job, provides the materials and tools, and hires specialized subcontractors for the construction work. Remodeling contractors can perform electrical work, plumbing, HVAC, roofing, or build a house
Why use a general building contractor?
A general contractor saves you time, resolves any problems, and ensures the construction follows code requirements. General contractors have a network of experienced, licensed, and insured subcontractors to properly build any project. Home contractors also source all the materials, tools, and permits and pay for them on your behalf.
Common projects to hire a licensed general contractor are home, bathroom, kitchen, and basement remodeling.
Get at least three estimates from building contractors to compare.
Ask for references and to see a portfolio of their past work.
Verify their insurance, worker’s compensation, and bond guarantees.
Call references, read their reviews, and check out their previous work on HomeGuide and Google.
Ask about their warranties and guarantees.
Ask for a full itemized contract in writing in case of a dispute.
Avoid making large payments upfront. Come up with a payment schedule for work completed.
What questions to ask a general contractor before hiring?
Ask these questions upfront before hiring:
How long have you been a general contractor?
How many similar projects have you built?
Can you provide me with a list of references?
Can I see your portfolio?
Are you licensed, insured, and bonded?
Have there been any lawsuits against your company?
How do you handle damages that happen on the job?
Who's the project manager?
What qualities do you look for in subcontractors?
What hours do you and your crew work?
How long will the project take?
What permits do I need, and will you obtain them?
What does your warranty policy include?
Can you provide me a written estimate or contract with a breakdown of all costs?
What is the structure of the payment agreements?
Do you offer in-house financing?
What do I need to provide to get started?
Do general contractors need insurance?
A general contractor assumes responsibility for the project and should be licensed and insured. Ask for a potential contractor's license number and proof of insurance before hiring. Ask your local building department for licensing requirements, then verify the licensing on the state's licensing board website.
Reviews for Tempe general contractors
Recent success stories from people in the Tempe area.
John D.
GREAT JOB!!!!!!!!!!!!
A&C plumbing
Chandler, C.
Don Burns is truly a professional. We called Cactus Valley Homes, along with several other contractors, to give us estimates on our project. He was personally available to quickly give us a very fair quote. We chose Don because of his professionalism, price and his ability to do all of the work with a high level of craftsmanship, design ideas and a made our home a resort oases to live in! He provided us with formal, written quotes and, I'm happy to say, the costs did not exceed these quotes. Everyone at Cactus Valley Homes was there every step of the way. They gave us design advice as we chose the materials and planned the kitchen, bathrooms, flooring, and all required fixtures and yes even the paint colors. From there, he and his crew handled everything...plumbing, glass shower surround, granite counter tops, cabinetry, drywall, painting, fixtures and tiled the shower, backsplash, flooring and baseboards. Everything he touched turned out beautifully! Our happiness was Don's top priority. He was always available to answer our questions and checked in frequently to ensure that we were pleased with the progress. The finished product is perfect however, the best part about working with Don is that he is completely trustworthy. It means the world to us that we could have total peace-of-mind when we were away and he was working in our home. It's great to work with one contractor that can do every aspect of a project as we never had to worry about giving access to our home to different crews of people. He constantly went the extra mile, working with our busy schedules and accommodating our 2 big dogs throughout the process. Don is a pleasure to work with. He is a true, honest professional.
Cactus Valley Homes
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