Contractors

A good general contractor is worth his or her weight in gold. The general contractor's job is to assure that the proper building permits are obtained and that all work adheres to code. He or she oversees the hiring and scheduling of subcontractors so the job will go smoothly. The contractor also obtains materials and keeps track of the receipts. He or she is responsible for paying subcontractors when the job is complete and cleaned up. And the job isn't complete until the homeowner is satisfied.

Most importantly, the general contractor is providing a service along with a product. The quality of the service provided will determine the quality of the finished project and your satisfaction with it. Subcontractors may include: Mechanical, Electrical, Grading, Paint Glass Glazing, Concrete, Landscape/Irrigation, Flooring, Roofing, Masonry/Tile, Fire Protection/Sprinkler, Acoustical/Drywall, Demolition, Insulation, Waterproofing, Foundation or other specialty.

The Associated General Contractors of America, (703) 548-3118, www.acg.org, and the Carolinas AGC, (704) 372-1450, www.cagc.org, can assist in finding general contractors, subcontractors and specialty contractors, material and equipment suppliers. These organizations, while primarily intended for their members, provide resources that may be valuable to consumers as well, such as contracts you may purchase and legislative news.

When you've gotten a list of potential contractors for your job, be diligent about getting references and talking with others who've used ones you're considering. If possible, inspect their work yourself or have a reliable, trustworthy, knowledgeable independent third party do it for you. Ask if the contractor participates in trade organizations or if he has any certifications. Make sure you see proof of license, insurance (including liability) and bonding. You may want to find out from the building code official exactly what licenses are required so you'll know them when you see them. Check with the Better Business Bureau of Coastal Carolina, 321 N. Front Street, Wilmington, (910) 341-3006, for any complaints against them.

Ask for a detailed written proposal or quote that spells out step-by-step what needs to be done, what materials will be used and how the work is to be completed. Compare proposals for the contractors you like. Consider how well you communicate with each one and take into consideration how they relate to you. Do they return calls in a timely manner and keep their appointments with you? Do they seem quality-oriented and generally interested in doing business with you? Make sure any contract you sign has a start date and a completion date. If the contractor returns a general or open-ended price for the work or finish date, find someone else. A payment schedule should be outlined in the contract. Any changes made after construction is under way will necessitate written amendments to the contract.

To obtain lists of contractors by categories, contact the Wilmington-Cape Fear Home Builders Association, (910) 799-2611, or go to www.wilmingtonhomebuilders.com. Also look in the local Yellow Pages. Remember, many builders and construction companies also serve as general contractors, which can be a bit confusing when you're trying to find one. Some of the area's popular residential contractors are listed below.

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