Find a general contractor in Livermore, CA

Find general contractors in Livermore, CA

Q: How much do local general contractors charge?

General contractors charge 10% 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.

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Find general contractors in Livermore, CA

Confirm your location to see the best general contractors near you.

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Top 10 general contractors in Livermore, CA

Homeowners agree: these Livermore general contractors are highly rated for knowledge, experience, communication, and more.

Your General Contracting questions, answered

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on HomeGuide.

How much do local general contractors charge?

General contractors charge 10% 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.

How do I find a good general contractor?

Start by searching our list of construction companies near you. After finding contractors in your area:

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 Livermore general contractors

Recent success stories from people in the Livermore area.

Sonney M.

Jason from Fine Designs Electric was great to work with. He installed my EV charger quickly and cleanly. While he was here, he also noticed my old garage panel was part of a recall, which I didn't even know. He replaced it and brought it up to code by moving it outside the wall like it's supposed to be. He was professional, fair on price, and the whole process was fast and easy.

Fine Designs Electric

Moe A.

Highly, highly recommend Kevin and Tim. I had a great experience from start to finish. Thanks Cal Coast!!!

Cal Coast Window & Door

GARY L F.

THE WORKERS WERE HERE ON TIME EACH DAY. THEY ALWAYS CLEANED UP BEFORE LEAVING. THE JOB WAS DONE ON TIME AND I HAVE NO COMPLAINTS..VERY NICE WORK.. GARY

Defersol building contractor

Sharad K.

Fern with Bella Homes did a phenomenal job of our attic remodeling project. It was a complex construction project that involved reinforcing the foundation, replacing stud walls with shear walls, building a staircase, and fully converting the attic to a habitable space with a bathroom and a patio. Fern’s communication was stellar and he kept us updated on the project status. He was on top of any issues that arose and addressed them timely. Fern is a perfectionist and supervised the project with a sharp eye for the details. His crew is very experienced and executes very well. Fern managed the city inspections in a professional manner and we passed all of them with no rework! With a project as involved as ours, Fern was quite flexible in accommodating our input. He offered great advice on interior decoration decisions ranging from picking interior/exterior color of the house to setting up the fireplace with a distressed mantlepiece. Fern ensured that the layout, flow, and appearance of the house were in harmony and ultimately delivered the project to our utmost satisfaction.