The term ‘general contractor’ is used a lot during renovations of homes and office spaces, but many people may not be aware of what it actually means. Let’s break down the main elements of the title.

 

‘General’ is a term that defines many or varied, but can be an official ranking for a leader in the army as well. In this particular instance, both definitions are relevant. A general contractor is the leader of a team of specialists that do varying jobs on a particular renovation project. They are responsible for coordinating the various aspects of a project. From managing day-to-day objectives, dealing with vendors, proposal bids, costs and staying on budget, and ensuring that the whole project moves along smoothly and in a timely fashion.

 

The contractor part of the title can refer to the contracts that are involved with each project and also that each project may be referred to as a contract in itself. All contracts connected with a project, including proposal bids, drawings, project manuals, proposal addendums, etc. are the responsibility of the general contractor.

 

A general contractor has a lot on their plate, but has to make sure they don’t bite off more than they can chew. Staying organized is very important and a good general contractor is able to maintain a top notch schedule and is reliable to their whole team.