Frequently Asked Questions

What exactly is a contractor's job?
A contractor's job is to work with customers to come up with a realistic goal according to the customer's vision for the project and to develop and implement a plan that will accomplish this goal within a given timeframe and budget.

Why hire a general contractor?
Most people know that building a home (or any large building project) requires a large investment of money and is usually the greatest single investment a family or individual will make in their lifetime.  What a lot of people do not realize is the tremendous amount of time and energy required to properly see a project through to completion.  This is the benefit of hiring a general contractor, who will manage all aspects of a construction project including:
 

• Construction documents

• Permits

• Subcontractor bids, hiring, coordination and payment

• Material bids, ordering, deliveries, coordination and payment

• Scheduling

• Jobsite supervising and quality control

• Risk management

• Budget management

• Safety

• Many other details

These details require more spare time and energy than most people have, which is why hiring a general contractor should make the process easier and less painstaking for the average customer.

Why not always hire the cheapest contractor for my project?
Just like any other products in the marketplace, the rule of thumb "you get what you pay for" usually applies to building construction as well. When choosing a contractor be wary of the bid that comes in much lower than the others. If this is the case, you should verify that the bid includes all the work you specified to be done and that it will be done according to all applicable building codes. You should also verify that the quality of materials to be provided is on par with the other bids and at the level of quality you would like for your home or building. Probably most importantly, make sure your potential builder has a reputation for quality work. Other than direct references from the contractor, the easiest way to check this is to talk to lumber yards or other building suppliers in the contractor's area who can usually give you a pretty good feel for a contractor's level of performance.

I would like to do some of the work on my project myself and hire the rest of the work out to a contractor. Will Glenn Construction work with this kind of arrangement?
Absolutely. This is a very common scenario these days, especially for those who are building a vacation home and have a limited budget.  In this situation, the owner becomes like a subcontractor who must be aware of the building schedule and where their work will fit into that.  The owner must also follow the same standards of workmanship he or she expects from a contractor as well as maintaining safety standards.  If everything is coordinated properly, working along with a professional builder on the construction of your own home can be a very rewarding and educational experience!