People who’ve never worked with a general contractor in Florida to build a new luxury home or renovate an existing one may have misconceptions about how general contracting works. They might not understand the responsibilities of a general contractor or have heard things—both negative and positive—about the profession that just isn’t true. If you’re planning on building or renovating a luxury home in Naples, Florida, you’ll want to clearly understand what a general contractor brings to the project and how an experienced one can help ensure the highest quality construction.
With decades of experience designing, building, and renovating custom luxury homes in Naples, Carlson Harris General Contractors can help you understand the role and value a skilled general contractor brings to your new home build or renovation project. Let’s examine the eight common misconceptions people tend to have about general contractors to provide you with better clarity on how one can optimize your home construction project in Naples.
1. ONE GENERAL CONTRACTOR IS AS GOOD AS ANOTHER
Why some people think that general contracting is a one-size-fits-all profession is beyond us. Just like every new home build or renovation project differs, general contractors have varying levels of experience, skills, and project successes. There are also some unscrupulous general contractors in Florida who cut corners, gouge clients, or otherwise fail to successfully complete the project as promised. When choosing a general contractor in Naples, conduct due diligence research to find the best.
2. NO REASON NOT TO CHOOSE A LOW-BID CONTRACTOR
In what, in some cases, be related to the first misconception, some Naples homeowners seeking a contractor believe they should choose the one who offers the lowest bid. While the cost savings of going with the lowest bid may seem worth it, the lower-bidding contractors might be cutting their costs by using inexperienced labor, sketchy subcontractors, and cheap materials. In general contracting, you often get what you pay for.
3. GENERAL CONTRACTORS DO NOT HAVE TO BE LICENSED
We’re not sure why this misconception seems so prevalent, but the State of Florida does mandate that General Contractors be licensed. Licensed contractor requirements include at least four years of construction experience, with at least one of these in a supervisory role. Applicants for the license must pass a comprehensive exam that covers contract administration, project management, and Florida’s building code, among other things. Once licensed, a general contractor must renew their license every two years and complete 14 hours of approved continuing education courses.
4. THEY’RE ALWAYS FULLY INSURED
Never assume that a general contractor is fully insured. An uninsured one is cutting a corner that puts you at significant financial risk by making you liable for any accidents or property damage on the job site. A competent general contractor will have no problem verifying that they have liability insurance and worker’s compensation.
5. YOU DON’T NEED A SIGNED CONTRACT
If you hire a general contractor, insist on a written contract detailing the scope of work, estimated timelines, payment terms, and other project details. Most highly competent general contractors present their prospective clients with a proposed contract as part of the hiring process.
6. GENERAL CONTRACTORS FOCUS ON THE CONSTRUCTION
Some people assume that a general contractor is responsible solely for the construction elements of a new home build or renovation. However, a competent general contractor will help manage all project phases, including pre-construction planning, estimating, permitting, materials acquisition, subcontractor retention, construction, and post-construction inspections and clean-up.
7. GENERAL CONTRACTORS DON’T DO RENOVATIONS
Many homeowners believe general contractors aren’t interested in taking on smaller projects like home renovations. In a related vein, some also believe that a home renovation doesn’t need to be overseen by a general contractor. In either case, a homeowner might try to get the work done by hiring the appropriate tradespeople separately, be it carpenters, electricians, or plumbers. However, many general contractors eagerly take on smaller projects and add a level of project management and attention to detail that helps ensure seamless construction flow and high-quality work.
8. THEY ENSURE PROJECT COMPLETION ON TIME AND WITHIN BUDGET
As for this misconception, highly competent general contractors strive to complete their projects on time and within budget. However, weather, permitting delays, materials shortages, labor issues, unforeseen engineering challenges, and other issues can arise with any construction project. A professional general contractor will factor such challenges into their contract, explain how they will be addressed, and detail what impacts they might have on the estimated project cost and timing.
TRUST CARLSON HARRIS FOR YOUR NAPLES-AREA GENERAL CONTRACTING
If you’ve been unfamiliar with how general contracting works, we trust that we’ve shed some clarity on their role in home building and renovations by examining these common misconceptions. And if you’re seeking luxury custom home build or renovation work in Naples, we trust that you’ll consider Carlson Harris a viable general contractor candidate. To learn more about our decades-long work building exquisite homes and renovation projects in Southwest Florida, contact Carlson Harris General Contractors today at 239-352-2460.
