Find a general contractor in Charlotte, NC

Find general contractors in Charlotte, NC

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 Charlotte, NC

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

Zip code

Top 10 general contractors in Charlotte, NC

Homeowners agree: these Charlotte 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 Charlotte general contractors

Recent success stories from people in the Charlotte area.

Betty L.

Excellent customer service and knowledge of the industry. Andrew and his team went above and beyond on our custom home. His pride and attention to detail in the job made us feel if he was building his own personal home for us. He made time in the evenings and weekends to do walk through and help make the process easy and set the right expectations. We would recommend anyone who wants a true custom home builder that cares more about the final product than just another number should work with Bellwether Custom Homes and Andrew. He comes from a good building family and does what he says he is going to do! His motto is Building YOUR Way Home!, and it shows by the custom quality craftsmanship.

Bellwether Custom Homes

Dana V.

Jeff is a great guy to work with. He's very communicative and detailed. You will always know the timeline for your project and he will update you if anything changes to that timeline. We chose to have our project completed during COVID when the costs of all materials skyrocketed but Jeff kept us informed and did his best to still keep the project on budget. Jeff hires only the best subcontractors to do the work needed. He's able to hire the best because he has great working relationships with the best. Jeff works tirelessly from quoting the project to seeing it through to the very end. We are very pleased with the final outcome of our poolside pavilion. I am the owner of an architectural design/drafting house, and I have worked with Mr. Francis on numerous occasions over the last 6 years. Mr. Francis is a reputable builder and we have built a great working relationship with Odyssey solely based on his integrity, and his passion for construction. Mr. Francis has always respected the design process and has gone above and beyond the call of duty to ensure that clients we have worked together with are completely satisfied with the job from start to finish. His clientele that we have encountered have always been proud of the service that he brings to their projects and have been more than happy to employ his services in the future. Whenever Mr. Francis calls, I make sure that I or someone on my design team makes themselves available to him. He has been a valuable resource to refer to in the design process. He has also made himself available to me and my team, even if it is not a project he is directly associated with. Mr. Francis is the professional you want to hire to get the job done!