Q & A

Answers to commonly asked questions from the experts on Thumbtack.

Why should you hire a contractor?

Hiring a general contractor is a good idea for many remodeling projects. Home renovation contractors have a broad range of skills to manage, coordinate and complete a project. They should help make sure your project comes in on time and within your budget as they hire and supervise all the necessary subcontractors, including electricians and plumbers. They also handle procuring all the materials required for your job. Some homeowners look to save money by acting as their own contractor, but an experienced home renovation contractor is worth the cost. They should know local building codes, be able to pull all necessary permits, and work with inspectors to make sure the construction meets local codes. Also, because they get professional discounts, they can typically buy materials at a better price than you can; better prices on materials and labor save you money, and make up for at least a percentage of the cost of the contractor.

What do construction project managers do?

Construction project managers help in all stages of your construction project, starting from the very first step. Typically paid a percentage of a total project cost, they are part of the design and planning process and help ensure seamless communication between the design parties and the construction team. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, their scope of work includes preparing cost estimates, budgets and work timetables; interpreting and explaining contracts and technical information to other professionals; reporting work progress and budget to clients; collaborating with architects, engineers and other construction pros; selecting subcontractors and scheduling and coordinating their tasks; responding to work delays, emergencies and other problems; and ensuring compliance with legal requirements, building and safety codes, and other regulations.

The work of construction project managers may seem very similar to that of general contractors, but there are some critical differences. One difference is that, unlike most general contractors, project managers are not engaged in the actual construction — they are onsite overseeing the work of subcontractors. Another key difference is that project managers are hired during the design phase, while general contractors are hired after plans have been made. The project manager is generally paid a percentage of the total project cost, while the general contractor is more typically paid according to the bid they gave to build your project.

What is a general contractor?

When starting a home remodel or new construction project, you will probably hire a general contractor. A general contractor is a professional who is qualified to take a set of building plans and construct them as outlined. The general contractor may help perform the day-to-day building, or they may just hire workers and oversee all the work activities. In either case, the job of the general contractor is to see that your project gets built.

When you have a building project, ask for bids from various contractors. The bids tell you how much each will charge and what their scope of work will be. Once you have selected a bid, you sign a contract with that general contractor outlining the specifics of the project and the milestones during the project when they will receive payment installments. Once the contract is official, the general contractor will bring in their crew to begin construction. The contractor will manage the workers and subcontractors (anyone who doesn’t work directly for their company but that they need to outsource, like a marble installation pro), order all the materials, obtain work permits, and confirm that all the workers and subcontractors are completing their projects as planned. They typically handle all the payments to the workers and subcontractors, and send you invoice. For all these reasons, it’s also especially important to follow a few smart hiring practices when it comes to finding a general contractor. If you are organized and competent to oversee construction projects, and are able to make sure everything is being built properly and meeting code, it’s possible you can be your own general contractor.

How do I find out if a contractor is licensed?

It’s important to know if your project requires work by a licensed professional, as licensing laws can vary by state, locality, and job details. You can find general licensing information online at the government websites that handle occupational licensing for a given profession in your state or location. Some states designate a project cost over which you have to hire a licensed contractor. To find qualified licensed contractors, search your state’s licensing board. For example, in California, the Department of Consumer Affairs operates a searchable database through the Contractors State License Board. In some states, contracting licenses are provided at a regional level. You can find links to specific databases on BRB Publications’ Occupational Licensing page. Red flags that a contractor may not be licensed or may be providing an expired or false license number are unreasonably low bids or a request for complete payment upfront. For more, check out our tips for smart hiring on Thumbtack.

How do you choose a commercial general contractor?

A commercial contractor provides similar services as a residential general contractor but specializes in working with large-scale projects for businesses, schools, nonprofits, governments and development firms. When researching commercial general contractors, review their portfolio of work and confirm they have ample experience working in the area you need. For example, if you are building a small strip mall, ask if the contractors have experience successfully incorporating all the needed elements such as a parking lot, meeting ADA requirements, accessing the proper permits, and completing work on time.

Once you’ve identified several qualified candidates, request bids for your project and then compare the scope of work with your needs and budget. Your commercial general contractor should oversee design, permitting, construction, materials purchase, and adherence to building code and zoning regulations, as well as sticking to an agreed-upon budget and schedule. It’s important to establish clear communication with your future commercial general contractor, as this will mean a smoother process for everyone. For all these reasons, it’s also especially important to follow a few smart hiring practices when it comes to finding a general contractor.

Lana B.

Verified review

Kevin took on the remodeling and project managed, which included hiring subcontractors as well as provided design ideas for my recently acquired 2-story, 2000/Sq./Ft. single-family home in Napa Valley, CA. The home was gutted, two bathrooms fully remodeled, all built-in cabinets rebuilt and refinished, custom barn doors made, partition walls added, needed electrical and plumbing work, installation of FF&E(s), flooring, and multi-color painting throughout. Kevin did a great job, worked hard and long hours to accomplished it all in just 3 weeks, wow!

Juan R.

I had never done any renovations before, and I was concerned about working with a contractor. I am so glad that I chose Excel Construction to remodel my kitchen and bathroom. Eyal and the workers were a pleasure to work with. The main things that I appreciated while working with them were: - They paid attention to my needs, my thoughts, my ideas, and my vision and worked within my budget (which was the most important thing in this remodeling). - Eyal with his office staff made sure to pull all permits for the work and they just informed me when they got them or about any stage of the permit (other builders who quoted me said they did not pull permits) - Eyal made sure to spend a lot of time consulting me and explaining me before the remodeling began. This included many discussions on layouts, appliances/fixtures, designs, what to expect..... -Eyal scheduled their crew and subcontractors. They were able to completely renovate my kitchen and bathroom in 9 weeks. They worked quickly and efficiently. -They paid attention to all the details even the small ones and made sure that everything was completed to my satisfaction. - All the materials that they used, were selected by me and they used high quality raw materials. Overall, I had a good experience working with Excel Construction and would not hesitate to use them again.

Kanyon C.

I am a General Contractor ,from Santa Barbara Area here for several upcoming projects we were hand chosen due to our high quality workmanship thus relocated as part of our deal, While here Wife decided to buy a second home ,not knowing any roofers we ran across his ad and decided to give him a shot either that or wait for our roofer from Santa Barbara to come here when his time allowed,I was hesitant due to the high standards and clientel we are accustom to In Santa Barbara my wife included ...To our amazement Toms personality as a person was a pleasure to work with on a professional level his work and his of qualitywork far exceeded what we were expecting down here ,Tom is capable to perform as directed without little if no input from us it went smooth,Other subs we hired here for our own personal projects saw me as the General and not as the client which we were not happy about , Tom saw beyond that knowing I am a general yet not on my personal property , he gave us A-1 treatment , quality of his workmanship is beyond what I expected if the need arose I would not hesitate to take him back home to Santa barbara as a subcontractor , however as for now we, click which makes my life easier to say the least so in regards to down this area I think I found one subcontractor I will keep....As for you others subcontractors from this area well it's probably in my best interest to just bring my subcontractors from Santa Barbara due the working relationship with me and their high quality of workmanship which I have built my reputation on , However Tom has proved himself beyond what I expected and I look forward to upcoming projects with him down south here as well as back in Santa Barbara if he's up for it his quality will fit right in up there with what the cliental expectsand high standards the client base expect in santa Barbara and like me Tom is hands on not the type of contractor who just sends workers and just shows up when it's time to pickup a check....as for his prices well it is a fair price for the quality and the pleasure of working with Tom.....Not to mention he is licensed insured etc. Tom like my self is not looking to get rich off one Job rather we know during these economic times things have changed and we have to change with it and like myself tom reflected that in His price, all these other subs heard I was from Santa Barbara and saw $$$$$ signs , somehow the general public has this conception all contractors have deep pockets , let me assure you it takes capital to make money and we have a lot tied up in Insurances , Bond's etc things the public has no idea about and although our cost have to adjust accordingly based on these economic times I can assure our Marerial's prices and labor expenses as well as insurance and bonds have only increased...So bottom line with Tom for a licensed Roofer and your protection your wasting time shopping around.

Lee G.

We highly recommend Triton Builders. I feel as though we got good value for money. When the scope of our bathroom remodel expanded we were not gouged with change orders. Enjoys a good relationship with subcontractors and able to get them to perform on time with fair pricing. Excellent quality, listens to the client carefully, responsive, hard working, honest and trustworthy. Good experience; will use again.

Lorraine M.

Alan Pikul and his staff had many design suggestions that complimented our designs ideas perfectly. The staff, especially Mike and Robbie were amazing and very concerned with the entire construction project ,often stopping by just to check that any subcontractors were up to Apotects standards. We have been completely satisfied with the construction, clean up and follow-up of this 5 star project. We share our home with friends and family with pride.

Judy G.

Todd was great - he had some really nice wood double-hung windows built and the installation went well. It's a 100 year old Craftsman so it required more than a simple remove and replace...and they turned out great. He replaced the existing MDF trim with real wood, sanded the edges to match the original woodwork of the house & it looks great. He made sure the work areas inside the house were covered/sealed as much as possible & cleaned up too (which seems like a given, but i've had contractors that created a mess and left a mess). The best thing is that he actually did the work himself - no subcontractors which is always risky for the customer. From our experience, he is very detailed-oriented and also has excellent carpentry skills. He seems to take pride in his work and it shows. We would hire him again for future work.

Michael P.

I have hired John Pino construction THREE TIMES. The first time was a small job in Murrieta to cut-back and re-build a corner overhang on the roof of my house so I could pull my RV up close to the side of the house. John performed that job quickly and easily and for a very fair price. When I needed some work done inside my Murrieta home, I did not hesitate to hire John Pino again. This was a bigger job involving moving a wall and creating custom inset cabinets around my fireplace. Once again, John's work was excellent and his price was fair. After my wife and I moved to Escondido, we kept in touch with John. When we decided to add-on to our home, we hired John Pino without hesitation. It was a truly large job, adding over 1,000 square feet to our hillside home in Hidden Meadows. It was a tricky addition over a steep slope. The new addition included a full wrap-around deck on the south the west sides. The west side deck was cantilevered. We also had John re-locate a stairwell and a laundry room in the older part of the home. It cost us $180,000 to do this. In comparison, the HUGE, well-advertised construction companies such as Lars and Marrokal estimated this job would be $225,000. I am an aerospace engineer and I love to work with my hands. Impressively, John allowed me to work with him when I was able to. He was even willing to teach me some new things. John is not the type of contractor to hire subcontractors, then take off and ignore them. John would always be right there working with them and monitoring the quality of their work. Especially impressive to me was a time I was home when a building inspector arrived. I talked with him just before he left and he raved about John's work. He told me that if all contractors did that quality of work, his job would be easier and more fun. He actually said to me, "I wish I could bring other contractors here to see what's been done as an example of what to do right!" It is now six years later and we still live in the same Hidden Meadows Escondido home and we LOVE the changes John made. It was excellent quality work that has stood the test of time so far.

Jeff D.

Ivan has always been available for our construction projects as well as home repairs. His prices are reasonable and his subcontractors he uses have done a great job. I would recommend him for anyone looking for a honest and reliable contractor.

Marian C.

Jim was absolutely a pleasure to work with. I was so impressed with his communication. He ALWAYS answered my texts, emails, and phone calls promptly. That made the entire process so much better. He had great ideas and gave me suggestions. All of Jim's subcontractors were professional and very very respectful. Jim and his workers left each day only after making sure everything was cleaned up looking nice. I highly recommend Jim. Now that my kitchen. Is complete I will hire him again to remodel my bathroom.

David D.

I was a general building contractor in California for 30 years and am very familiar with residential and commercial construction projects. I currently own an 8 unit apartment property in Banning and have made many interior and exterior improvements. I've hired subcontractors and employed local workers to accomplish this and have been disappointed with almost of them. It's difficult to find someone who does a good job for a fair price. Ed has proven to be a responsible guy who shows up for work on time, communicates well, takes pride in his work and is not lazy. He has extensive construction knowledge, works in a clean, organized manner and finishes what he starts. He has installed floor tile and concrete block, made interior repairs, done carpentry and landscaping jobs for me and did a great job on all of them. I'm particular about the quality of work product on my property and do not normally recommend people but I know you will be glad you chose him for your improvement project.

Gustavo C.

Bright Builders remodeled our downtown LA loft and installed a new kitchen, new bathroom, new walls, and all new electrical and plumbing. Benjamin was on site with us every day, always available on the phone, and very communicative and responsible. Remodeling our loft was probably the most stressful thing we’ve ever done and we were glad to have Benjamin there to make us laugh and calm us down. It helps that he’s very funny and relaxed. Many people came and went over the course of a month, subcontractors, an architect, assistants, but Benjamin was always our point person and there was a very clear chain of command. Very relieved it’s done and that we have a beautiful new home. We will definitely use them again.

William G.

January 7, 2017 To whom it may concern: It is our pleasure to write this letter of recommendation for John Duhon of Duhon Construction. John was our general contractor for an extensive remodel. The remodel included removal of first-floor interior walls, relocation of the kitchen to the back of the house, addition of two bath-rooms and an upstairs bedroom, downstairs and upstairs decks, a new roof and flooring, and plumbing and rewiring. This project, which took twenty months, involved coordinating the work of different subcontractors and work crews, consulting with a structural engineer, and working with an interior designer. For work that he did not do himself, John used knowledgeable, skilled, and competent subcontractors, who conscientiously followed project specifications. He effectively coordinated and managed the work crews, who were reliable and courteous. At the end of a day, John left everything in order. A friend commented she had never known a contractor to be so tidy. John was an expert at dealing with City Hall. His familiarity with building codes and with the permitting and inspection process, kept the project on track. When a situation arose in which work was called for that had not been foreseen in the plans, John took care of it--often without charging extra. Communicating with John at the project or by phone and email, was always easy. John was generous with his time and clear in his explanations. When requests or concerns were brought to his attention--for example, when we asked for storage space under the stairs--John willingly complied. John’s services were invaluable. We recommend John Duhon as a general contractor, highly and without reservation. William and Ana Greenberg

Brent W.

Wayne is one of the most honest contractors I have ever had the privilege of working with. He is knowledgeable and cares about you and your project. We were delighted with the results and outcome of our project. I strongly recommend him and would be more than happy to talk to you if you are considering using his services. He is truly a "gem"!

Gerry R.

We were extremely fortunate to have met Steve Marsh just after we purchased our lot for our new 10,000 square foot custom home. Steve helped us develop budgets, select contractors, fixtures and material suppliers, and he took complete control of the project from beginning to end. He made helpful creative and money-saving suggestions where alternative methods or materials could be used, and managed all of the subcontractors in a congenial and professional way, which encouraged them to work efficiently and to produce their best work. Steve has always been there when we've had a follow-up question about something involving our home, and even though we built it a few years ago, he remembers every detail as if we had just completed it last week. We cannot give a higher recommendation for this gentleman, and we will certainly use him again for our next dream house!

Kelly E.

We met John Santos through Thumbtack. He was always prompt, on time and responsive to our questions and concerns. We hired him to gut and remodel out kitchen. He has a lot of great ideas which helped us in our decisions. He also helped us save money by recommending pre-fab quartz for our countertop. He recommended a custom cabinet builder who we also worked with. He had a great network of subcontractors. John managed the project very well and came in on budget. We would definitely use him again and recommend him to friends.

Quinn N.

I have hired Mr. Jesus Sanchez many times from 2011 to 2015. First, he was our electrical subcontractor for our new commercial building in Downey. Thereafter he has been helping us as the handyman in different types of maintenance works for our properties around Downey area. His is always prompt, pleasant, knowledgeable and the fees is very reasonable. Quinn Nuyen, Manager of Compartment Business Partners, LLC

Nancy B.

We have done numerous major remodel projects at various homes in San Diego, but we had no idea where to begin looking for a GC for the house we were buying in Fontana to flip. We had never used thumbtack, but ultimately all of our bids were done through this site. We ultimately hired California Way Construction and all I can say is - LOOK NO FURTHER. HIRE THESE GUYS. They know their business, are honest, beyond reliable, amazing communicators, available night and day. Raul has an incredible design sense and made wonderful suggestions throughout the project (to the point I stopped doing much myself because I ended up liking every single recommendation he made better than what I had picked -- paint color, granite, tile, hardwood stain color., etc, etc.) This house was (literally) a tear-down and it's GORGEOUS. Oligario and Raul (with wonderful subcontractors) do what they say they're going to do and have exceeded our expectations in every way possible. We are just days away from finishing this huge job, so don't take them yet (!), but there are not enough words to recommend the quality, professionalism and kindness of this team.

Tony B.

A complete remodel of a 3500 sq. ft. home in Bell Canyon. This is what I would call a "one wall remodel!" Everything from floor to roof was changed. The finished home is beautiful and now renting for $6750 a mo. Other than minor "glitches" with a subcontractor now and then and change orders (not caused by the contractor) during the remodel, which slightly slowed the job, everything went perfectly.

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