Find a general contractor in Palo Alto, CA

Find general contractors in Palo Alto, 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 Palo Alto, CA

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

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Top 10 general contractors in Palo Alto, CA

Homeowners agree: these Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto general contractors

Recent success stories from people in the Palo Alto area.

Deborah R.

He was a great guy his work was very professional and he got all of it done on time. I would hire him any other time I have referred him out to other clients of mine

World Electrical Contractors Inc &ARZ Construction

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.

BELLA HOME BUILDERS, INC.

Jessica J.

Build the Bay completed a bathroom remodel for me - I was really pleased with the outcome and the process. Communication: Eitan and his team were communicative and ready to answer any questions I had. They explained the schedule and process in the beginning and throughout the project they shared updates & explanations. I felt well supported throughout. Build Quality: The work Eitan and his team completed sas great. There’s an attention to detail and cleanliness in the finished product that is exactly what I was looking for. For example, walls in any house are not perfectly even and corners are not perfect 90 degrees - Eitan’s team recognized these issues in my bathroom and adjusted the work so that the end result looked perfect (even if the underlying walls weren’t).  When it came to things like tile design, Eitan gave attention to every inch so that the overall look was even & sophisticated. Timeliness: Eitan was willing to work with the schedule we had - it was summer so we had some time away and some last minute changes, but he was super reasonable & flexible. It was one less thing to stress about, which I appreciated. AND the project finished on time. Overall: I would definitely use Build the Bay again! We’re looking to kick off some larger projects in the future and I’ll go directly to Eitan for that work.

Build The Bay, Inc.

Jeff L.

Working with Cube Construction INC was a great experience from start to finish. The team was professional, responsive, and always on time. They kept the worksite clean and made sure we were informed at every stage of the project. The final result exceeded our expectations — high-quality work, attention to detail, and no shortcuts. Would definitely recommend them to anyone looking for a reliable contractor.