When you need a new home remodel, you want help from a top general contractor. Home remodeling is a combination of skilled craftsmanship, extensive experience in the field, and expertise in delivering the work our customers demand.
Home Care Contractors has been doing interior home remodels in Redmond, WA, for over a decade. We specialize in bathroom, kitchen, and exterior remodels, as well as customized renovations for our clients. Our expert teams guarantee satisfaction for your remodeling job.
We offer end-to-end service and project management, from the initial project kickoff to the final walkthrough. No matter what your vision for your remodel entails, the expert design team at Home Care Contractors can help you create it.
What Makes A Good General Contractor
A general contractor in Washington needs many skills to become one of the top home remodelers in the region. They must:
- Understand city and county inspection procedures
- Know local and state building codes and laws
- Have an eye for design and detail
- Understand budgeting and accounting
- Know how local architecture affects remodeling and renovation
- Coordinate project management and site planning
- Have a good knowledge of construction methods and materials
When you’re looking for the best contractor for the job, you need a company that takes pride in its work and has the best understanding of what it takes to meet its clients’ needs.
Services Provided by Home Care Contractors
Home Care Contractors offers complete custom home building, and we specialize in creating the interior design our clients demand. Some of our services include:
- Kitchen remodeling and renovation
- Bathroom remodeling and renovation
- Patios and exterior work
- Commercial construction
Whatever our customers need, our designers can help them choose the materials, fittings, and fixtures, and create the perfect mixture of ambiance and functionality for their home.
The Home Care Contractor Process
The process begins with the initial consultation. Our project manager will review your intended design and assess the available space. They then give you an initial estimate and timeline for the project.
Once you approve the estimate and contract, our team will begin work on the demolition and preparation. Once the site is prepared, the workers bring in the materials and fixtures you ordered for your new room or home.
Our project manager will consult with you throughout the project and keep you updated about any changes, delays, or adjustments. In some cases, inspections by city or county agencies may be necessary; your project manager will ensure that your schedule allows for these inspections.
Once the project is complete, we conduct a final walkthrough with you and address any remaining questions or concerns you may have. Our team won’t leave until you are delighted with the new addition to your home.
Advantages of Working with a General Contractor
Many people think they can handle their own remodel or renovation alone. It’s usually better to hire a pro. Some advantages to having a contractor handle your home remodel include:
- Project efficiency and time management. Our team knows how to manage multiple tasks and keep everything running smoothly, even when something changes at the last minute.
- Access to professional networks and resources. Contractor pricing ensures the best prices for materials and supplies. Knowing the industry gives us an edge on obtaining equipment and appliances for your new home.
- Handling of permits and regulations. Insurance is essential for any large project. Contractors have an edge when filing for permits and inspections that homeowners lack.
Contractors can get your job done faster, at a better price, and with fewer re-inspections than you can do alone.
Call Home Care Contractors
The initial consultation for your project review and budget is free. Call 206-556-6024 or contact us online, and we’ll begin your Redmond home remodel today.
Safety
The primary person responsible for preventing tragic incidents is the general contractor. By law, they have to abide by the standards set forth by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to prevent electrocution, death, dismemberment, and other serious injuries. The good news is that fatalities are down since 1970, when 38 worker deaths occurred per day 1970. In 2017, only 14 were occurring per day. However, of all the worker deaths that occurred in 2017 in private industry – a total of 4,674 workers – 971, or 20.7 percent of those, were in the construction industry.
A general contractor’s responsibility to the property owner and the workers is to ensure that adequate protective equipment has been provided to all workers. Protective respiratory equipment failure or an inadequate supply of equipment were the top reasons for construction fatalities, as well as injuries to the face and head. These are preventable accidents and injuries.
A general contractor is also concerned about the well-being of non-workers who may need to access the worksite. Whether it’s a home or commercial building, sometimes people can’t stay away. At the same time, work is being done, so cordoning off certain sections, keeping the air breathable, and minimizing messes in parking lots and driveways are ways a general contractor can help their clients stay safe and avoid missing work or family responsibilities.
Education and Training
When you’re looking to hire a general contractor company, keep in mind that this person will be your main point of contact throughout the entire process. Look at their credentials. If they do have a college degree, it should be in a field related to civil engineering, construction management, or construction science.
Their coursework will include a significant amount of role-playing and thought experiments, utilizing real case studies from construction projects. They will examine cases of extreme failure that cause the structure to collapse, as well as how to determine fault and safety issues when an accident has occurred. Using case studies prepares your general contractor to know how to respond whenever an emergency arises. This is useful because hopefully, they won’t have to learn the first time when an actual life is at stake.
Interpersonal and Leadership Skills
But even if they did not go to school, you still want to think about how you feel about them as a person, and what your faith in them as a leader is. Many successful general contractors worked in the business and moved up the ranks without a college degree. They will set the tone for the entire construction project, extending to all subcontractors. They need to know a bit about engineering, architecture, and people. Teams that harbor any hostility toward their general contractor are likely to produce subpar work. Here are some questions you can ask yourself when interviewing different general contractors:
- Does anyone recommend them? Typically, the architect or engineer will have a few individuals in mind. They may also have strengths in different areas.
- How do you feel when they respond to your questions? Do you feel relaxed, insulted, belittled, or unheard? If you have any problem with how they communicate, it will breed resentment.
- Do they have a track record you can look up or testimonials from other clients?
After falling, poor communication was one of the most cited reasons for a workplace injury or death on a construction site. You want a general contractor with a track record of excellent communication, not only between themselves and their clients but also with their crews.
Licensed and Bonded
In the State of Washington, anyone modifying property must be licensed. This encompasses all tradespeople and those who work in construction, whether it’s for roads, commercial buildings, or homes. Before hiring any general contractor or allowing them onto your property in the Puget Sound area, request to see their license first. Additionally, all general contractors and subcontractors are required to have surety bonds. These essentially guarantee that, between the two parties, the work will be completed regardless of the circumstances. Any residential work that totals $1,000 or more requires a disclosure statement to be given to all customers. Be sure to ask about these documents, and avoid companies that don’t have them. When hiring a general contractor in Redmond for your remodeling project, it’s essential to ask about their licensing and bonding, as well as to understand their payment schedule and review the contract. A good team will also be transparent about their budget and the services they offer, including carpentry. Our business prioritizes these crucial aspects.
Your Responsibilities As the Property Owner
Now that you know what kind of technical and people skills a general contractor should possess, it’s time to consider your obligations in this process so you’re not surprised. Obviously, this is a project that you have considered when hiring workers with expertise from a company in Redmond to do for you, so it should go without saying that missing payments or requesting changes to the contract after construction has begun is not acceptable. They are business owners and have accepted this job under a written agreement to be completed within the agreed budget. Open communication with the team, including any architects involved, is key for a smooth remodel that may include carpentry services.
Another expectation is that you will be open to communication, available to receive estimates and updates for your project, and that you will clearly articulate your vision for your remodel in Redmond, WA. When you give the general contractor vague ideas of what you want, it’s harder for them to bring your vision to life through their construction services. Communicate clearly to ensure the successful completion of the business agreement with your contractor.