How to Select a General Contractor for Your Construction Project

Whether you’re planning a residential or commercial project, selecting the right General Contractor (GC) is one of the most impactful decisions that you, as the Owner, will need to make. The right contractor is pivotal to delivering a smooth construction experience and a well-executed project, while the wrong contractor could lead to additional costs, delays, and frustration. So how do you find the right GC for your project?

Prior Personal Experience

If you’ve worked with a contractor before and had a great experience, it may be wise to select them again. The trust and working relationship established during a previous construction project can provide confidence and peace of mind as you move forward with a new one. But what if your prior experience with a GC was bad, or mediocre? What if your preferred contractor is unavailable? Or, what if this is your first major construction project and you don’t know where to begin?

Networking and Referrals

Internet research and referrals by friends, family or colleagues are good places to start a search for a contractor. Perhaps you noticed a GC working on another project that you admired, or your architect has recommended a contractor that they have worked with successfully in the past. The important thing to note is that these are just starting points in selecting a GC; the heavy lifting starts with what you do next.

GC Expertise and Portfolio

Understanding the types of projects that a GC specializes in is important because different types of construction require different types of expertise. If you’re building a house, you should select a contractor with a substantial residential construction résumé. If you’re building a restaurant, you want a GC who understands the complexities of restaurant construction. Beware of the contractor who claims to be a “jack of all trades,” as they are likely to be a master of none.

It is also important to understand the timeframe within which a GC completed the projects featured in their portfolio. Many GCs will continue to highlight projects on their website several years after their completion. When evaluating a contractor, it is best to focus on their recent projects only, as these projects are most likely to reflect their current capabilities and expertise.

Beware of the contractor who claims to be a "jack of all trades," as they are likely to be a master of none.

Qualification Statement and Financial Status

A contractor’s Qualification Statement—such as an A305 published by the American Institute of Architects—provides a thorough overview of a GC’s size, experience, and history of legal disputes. Reviewing a contractor’s Qualification Statement enables you to assess a firm’s stability and suitability for a project.

Depending on the size and complexity of your project, a thorough review of a GC’s financial status—including balance sheets and revenue statements—can also play a critical role in the contractor evaluation process. Understanding a contractor’s financial health can help you identify cash flow issues that the contractor may be experiencing. A GC that is financially strained may struggle to pay subcontractors in a timely manner. When that happens, a subcontractor may file a lien against your property, creating substantial legal and financial complications for you. Understanding a contractor’s financial standing upfront can mitigate this risk and ensure that your project progresses without disruption.

Reference Checks

Evaluating references is a standard part of the contractor evaluation process. When asked to provide a list of references, GCs will most likely select clients who will provide favorable feedback. With that said, knowing what questions to ask, and how to ask them, can help you glean important information from a reference check that a GC may not otherwise want you to know.

Project Staffing

Depending on the size of your project, you should expect that your project’s daily field operations will be supervised by either a full-time Superintendent or Foreman. The Superintendent/Foreman should work directly for the GC, not for a subcontractor. Oftentimes, a Project Manager will be assigned to your project as well. Unlike a Superintendent/Foreman, the GC’s Project Manager will oversee your project’s budget, schedule, and overall coordination.

Contractor Interview

After gathering all the above information, you should meet face-to-face with the GC’s Principal or Owner. This meeting provides you with the opportunity to clarify any of your findings and address any remaining concerns that you may have before making a final contractor selection.

The Advantage of an Owner’s Project Manager During the Contractor Selection Process

The right contractor can deliver a high-quality project while maintaining schedule, controlling costs, and resolving unexpected challenges before they become bigger problems. Identifying the right contractor, however, is not always straightforward.

As your Owner’s Project Manager (OPM), DeAngelis Group will help you, the Owner, navigate each phase of the contractor selection process with confidence, providing the knowledge, industry experience, and independent perspective needed to identify the right construction partner for you and your project.