Download or read book How to choose the right contractor for your Project written by Charles Nehme and published by Charles Nehme. This book was released on with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Preface Selecting the right contractor for your project can be a daunting task, yet it is one of the most crucial steps in ensuring the success of any construction or renovation endeavor. A good contractor can bring your vision to life efficiently, while a poor choice can lead to delays, budget overruns, and subpar work. Given the significance of this decision, it is essential to approach the selection process with diligence and a clear understanding of what to look for. This guide outlines ten practical and actionable strategies to help you choose the right contractor for your project. From defining your project requirements and seeking recommendations, to verifying credentials and reviewing past work, each step is designed to provide you with the insights needed to make an informed decision. By following these guidelines, you can mitigate risks, ensure quality workmanship, and establish a productive working relationship with a contractor who meets your specific needs. Whether you are embarking on a small home renovation or a large-scale construction project, this guide aims to equip you with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate the contractor selection process with confidence and success. Audience The audience for information about selecting the right contractor for a project typically includes homeowners, property managers, and individuals involved in construction or renovation decision-making. Here's a breakdown of the audience and their specific interests and needs: Homeowners: Interest: Ensuring their home improvement projects are completed on time, within budget, and to high-quality standards. Needs: Guidance on how to choose reliable contractors, understanding contract terms, ensuring safety and compliance, and managing expectations. Property Managers: Interest: Maintaining and enhancing property value through effective maintenance and renovation projects. Needs: Strategies for selecting reputable contractors, overseeing multiple projects, adhering to legal and safety standards, and managing contractor relationships. Construction Professionals (Architects, Engineers): Interest: Collaborating with skilled contractors to execute design plans effectively. Needs: Criteria for evaluating contractor qualifications, ensuring adherence to specifications and codes, managing project timelines, and fostering communication. Real Estate Investors: Interest: Maximizing returns on investment through successful property improvements and renovations. Needs: Identifying contractors who can deliver projects on schedule and budget, assessing project feasibility, and mitigating risks associated with contractor selection. Small Business Owners: Interest: Upgrading or expanding their business facilities through construction or renovation projects. Needs: Access to reliable contractors who can meet commercial construction requirements, comply with regulations, and deliver projects that enhance business operations. Community and Nonprofit Organizations: Interest: Undertaking construction projects to improve community facilities and infrastructure. Needs: Partnering with contractors who understand community needs, comply with funding requirements, and deliver projects that benefit the public. Key Focus Areas: Contractor Selection: Criteria for evaluating qualifications, experience, and reputation. Legal and Compliance: Understanding permits, licenses, insurance, and regulatory requirements. Project Management: Strategies for overseeing projects, managing timelines, and ensuring quality and safety standards. Communication and Collaboration: Best practices for fostering productive relationships with contractors and stakeholders. Understanding the diverse needs and interests of these audiences helps tailor information and resources to effectively guide them through the contractor selection process and ensure successful project outcomes.

Download or read book Markup Profit written by Michael Stone and published by Craftsman Book Co. This book was released on 1999-01-01 with total page 316 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In order to succeed in a construction business you have to be able to mark up the price of your jobs to cover overhead expenses and make a decent profit. The problem is how much to mark it up. You don't want to lose jobs because you charge too much, and you don't want to work for free because you've charged too little. If you know how much to mark up you can apply it to your job costs and arrive at the right sales price for your work. This book gives you the background and the calculations necessary to easily figure the markup that is right for your business. Includes a CD-ROM with forms and checklists for your use.

Download or read book Sawdust to Satisfaction written by Michael A. Baum and published by Createspace Independent Pub. This book was released on 2014-10-08 with total page 72 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Most people make decisions based purely on dollars when choosing a contractor. This is not the way to approach such a personally impacting decision concerning your home. With over 40 years of experience in the building and construction industry Michael provides a comprehensive step by step process to find and choose the right general contractor for your remodeling project. Michael also gives tips and suggestions for working harmoniously with your chosen contractor.This book is a must read prior to any construction or remodeling project.

Download or read book How to Select the Right Home Or Building Contractor written by Randal G. Winter and published by Beyond Publishing. This book was released on 2022-09-26 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Have you recently hired a contractor to do some home improvements, but after careful inspection, you noticed the work was subpar? You are not alone. According to the National Association of Consumer Agency Administrators and the Consumer Federation of America, home improvement contracting was the top complaint category reported by state and local consumer protection agencies during the last decade. As a previous expert witness for the California Contractors State License Board, Randal Winter has met some very distraught homeowners over the years. Some of these people have been without kitchens for over two years and some without bathrooms for up to fourteen months. Others are stuck with leaking roofs after spending tens of thousands of dollars for what they thought was going to be a new roof. This book will provide you with the insight necessary to ensure your next (or first) home improvement project goes as planned.

Download or read book What Your Contractor Can t Tell You written by Amy Johnston and published by . This book was released on 2008 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A comprehensive guide to building or renovating a home provides everything homeowners need to know to get the best results, covering such topics as selecting and supervising an architect and contractor, cost estimates, budget, plan specifications, dealing with permits, and more and examining a wide range of common pitfalls and how to avoid them.

Download or read book Homeowners It s Time to Think Like a General Contractor written by David M. Dillon and published by David Dillon. This book was released on 2011-01-09 with total page 131 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Amazon.com's publishing division "Create Space" has helped me to provide homeowners with a book written to help them successfully navigate the somewhat murky waters of hiring contractors for their home improvements. Aside from the burden of a complex process that many homeowners are unfamiliar with, there are plenty of deceptive practices which over promise and under deliver--or, worse. This book will give you practical suggestions on how to protect yourself, how to find quality contractors, how to lower the cost of any project, how to manage the process and how to achieve the quality results you want in the first place. Getting high quality work done for reasonable prices is precisely how to add real value to your home and avoid headaches. This book is loaded with practical advice to simplify the process and make any sized project more affordable. This makes your money go further, eliminates headaches and empowers you to take charge of the whole process. We'll cover exactly how to: * Size up a project * Estimate a realistic budget * Understand exactly how to hire only the best subcontractors * How to negotiate the best price with those subcontractors * How to manage them * How to pay them * How to keep everything effectively on track Chapters include: Preface A note from the author 1 Should you trust a General Contractor? 2 What does a competent GC do and why should I think like one? 3 How much do things really cost? 4 I have a project in mind. Where do I start? 5 How do I find the right subcontractors in terms of competence and price? 6 How should I pay the subcontractors? 7 What is the typical chronology of the construction process? 8 How do I estimate the time to do the whole job? 9 How do I check the quality of the work? 10 What are some issues to be aware of when making finish selections? 11 What about appliances? 12 What if I just want to hire a General Contractor? How do I pick the right one and not get taken for a ride? 13 What are some common mistakes to avoid on the road to achieving excellence? We'll also discuss how to protect your project from going over budget and the critical decisions that need to be made prior to even starting which so many people overlook, to their peril. In the end, you'll be ready to manage your own project, or if you choose, hire the very best General Contractor. You'll have a much more informed perspective of what a good General Contractor does in any successful renovation or new construction project and be able to easily distinguish the competent ones from the rest.

Download or read book Paper Contracting written by William D. Mitchell and published by . This book was released on 2012 with total page 270 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Risk, and the headaches that go wit it, have always been a major part of any construction project -- risk of loss, negative cash flow, construction claims, regulations, excessive changes, disputes, slow pay -- sometimes you'll make money, and often you won't. But many contractors today are avoiding almost all of that risk by working under a construction management contract, where they are simply a paid consultant to the owner, running the job, but leaving him the risk. This manual is the how-to of construction management contracting. You'll learn how the process works, how to get started as a CM contractor, what the job entails, how to deal with the issues that come up, when to step back, and how to get the job completed on time and on budget. Includes a link to free downloads of CM contracts legal in each state.

Download or read book The Complete Guide to Contracting Your Home written by Kent Lester and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2017-01-12 with total page 369 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Save 30% on home construction! Whether you want to take on all the responsibility of contracting your home or simply want to intelligently communicate with your homebuilder, The Complete Guide to Contracting Your Home can help you save 30% or more on the cost of home construction by teaching you the ins and outs of managing your construction project. Learn how to get your project off to a solid start. Get financial and legal details in language you can understand. Learn what to consider when selecting a lot and how to deal with suppliers, labor and subcontractors. Gain understanding of building codes and inspections so you can manage with authority, confidence, and efficiency. This extensive guide walks you through each phase of construction including preconstruction, foundations, framing, roofing, plumbing, electrical, masonry, siding, insulation, drywall, trim, painting, cabinetry, countertops, flooring, tile and landscaping. Completely revised and updated, this edition includes a new section on sustainable building as well as the most comprehensive building resources section ever compiled. You'll find schedules, order forms, control logs, contracts and checklists to help keep your project on track.

Download or read book Project Management for Construction written by Chris Hendrickson and published by Chris Hendrickson. This book was released on 1989 with total page 425 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Why Do Contractors Lie written by J.O.A.Maurice and published by Morgan James Publishing. This book was released on 2020-10-06 with total page 126 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Why Do Contractors Lie? gives real estate investors the necessary knowledge to approach the contracting process from a higher level of expertise. Real estate investor of many years, J. O. A. Maurice, equips investors with the appropriate and repeatable skills to hire the right contractors for the right jobs, at the right price, and for the right duration. In Why Do Contractors Lie?, Maurice lays out the appropriate and effective skills investors need so they don’t have to lose their investment due to a lying contractor. Within Why Do Contractors Lie?, real estate investors learn how to: Find a contractor they can trust Spot when contractors start to lie Make sure their project gets completed perfectly on time Avoid end-of-contract arguments or lawsuits Never again lose another investment because of terrible contractors

Download or read book Reducing Construction Costs written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2007-10-09 with total page 68 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The National Academy of Construction (NAC) has determined that disputes, and their accompanying inefficiencies and costs, constitute a significant problem for the industry. In 2002, the NAC assessed the industry's progress in attacking this problem and determined that although the tools, techniques, and processes for preventing and efficiently resolving disputes are already in place, they are not being widely used. In 2003, the NAC helped to persuade the Center for Construction Industry Studies (CCIS) at the University of Texas and the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to finance and conduct empirical research to develop accurate information about the relative transaction costs of various forms of dispute resolution. In 2004 the NAC teamed with the Federal Facilities Council (FFC) of the National Research Council to sponsor the "Government/Industry Forum on Reducing Construction Costs: Uses of Best Dispute Resolution Practices by Project Owners." The forum was held on September 23, 2004, at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. Speakers and panelists at the forum addressed several topics. Reducing Construction Costs addresses topics such as the root causes of disputes and the impact of disputes on project costs and the economics of the construction industry. A second topic addressed was dispute resolution tools and techniques for preventing, managing, and resolving construction- related disputes. This report documents examples of successful uses of dispute resolution tools and techniques on some high-profile projects, and also provides ways to encourage greater use of dispute resolution tools throughout the industry. This report addresses steps that owners of construction projects (who have the greatest ability to influence how their projects are conducted) should take in order to make their projects more successful.

Download or read book Being Your General Contractor Manage Your Construction Project by Yourself written by Antonia Teppo and published by . This book was released on 2021-09-23 with total page 52 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: When you are in the planning stage of your new construction, you need to make numerous decisions that have an impact on the success of the project. The most important of the decisions is the selection of the General contractor for your project. But, selecting the right person as the general contractor is a big gamble, and if the selection goes wrong, you will have a constant headache till the very end of the project. Instead of taking this big risk, if you have enough time and have little experience in the construction industry and many management qualities, you can become a general contractor. In this book, you will learn how to choose a building site, create a construction timeline, cost estimating, apply for a construction loan, obtain required insurance, create or buy building plans, find and negotiate with subcontractors, how to comply with building codes, inspection and permit requirements.

Download or read book Make It Right written by Mike Holmes and published by HarperCollins Canada. This book was released on 2013-08-27 with total page 466 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: More than 1 million viewers in Canada watch Mike Holmes’ television show, Holmes on Homes, every week. Thousands more see him at his personal appearances and visit his website, looking for advice on renos-gone-wrong. Mike Holmes is Canada’s most trusted contractor, a crusader with a mission to expose botched renovations--and now the author of a bestselling book that has shipped over 60,000 copies in its hardcover edition. Mike has taken his professional expertise and tell-it-like-it-is style and turned it into the guide no homeowner should be without. Make It Right walks readers through a renovation from start to finish, from the process of finding a reliable contractor to understanding the legalities of renovation. Mike explains the inner workings of a house, covers the most popular reno projects and describes the most common pitfalls. Packed with informative sidebars, checklists, diagrams and photographs, all showing what to expect from contractors and tradespeople, and how to keep every reno running on time and on budget, Make It Right is the book you need to read before you plan a renovation. Be smart. Take charge. Get it right the first time.

Download or read book The American Institute of Architects Official Guide to the 2007 AIA Contract Documents written by American Institute of Architects and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2009-03-23 with total page 496 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: No other contracts are more widely used in the construction industry than the American Institute of Architects’ standard forms. The American Institute of Architects Official Guide to the 2007 AIA Contract Documents offers unparalleled insight into the AIA’s extensive portfolio of contract documents, helping the reader understand the forms and how to implement them. This guide is divided into two parts:Part One, The AIA Standard Documents, examines the role of AIA Contract Documents, their history, and how the documents are written and updated. It also reviews the educational and supporting resources that are part of the AIA's contract documents program; Part Two, The AIA Documents Companion, describes agreements in detail, including the purpose and rationale for provisions. Separate chapters cover the owner-contractor, contractor-subcontractor, owner-architect, and architect-consultant agreements. The guide concludes with a chapter describing pivotal legal cases that have helped shape and interpret AIA contracts. Samples of the most commonly used contracts are in print in the appendix, and an accompanying CD-ROM has samples of all AIA Contract Documents (in PDF format for Mac and PC computers) that released in 2007, as well as the Integrated Project Delivery Family of documents that released in 2008. This book is invaluable for construction project owners, attorneys, contractors, subcontractors, design professionals, and others involved in the procurement, management, and delivery of building projects. It is also recommended for students and young professionals seeking a degree, certification, or licensure.

Download or read book Residential Construction Management written by Joseph A. Griffin and published by J. Ross Publishing. This book was released on 2010-03-15 with total page 289 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Residential Construction Management will provide construction managers a concise and practical guide to managing residential construction projects. One of the fundamental reasons residential contractors fail to prosper is that they are poor managers. By presenting project management tools in their appropriate context of the project lifecycle—initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and closing, readers will more clearly understand the iterative nature of construction management, which is a key to successfully managing a construction project. You can't afford to be without this indispensible working tool and its step-by-step instructions, project management templates, and real-world case studies. Residential Construction Management provides construction managers a concise and practical guide to managing residential construction projects. One of the fundamental reasons residential contractors fail to prosper is that they are poor managers. By presenting project management tools in their appropriate context of the project lifecycle — initiation, planning, execution, monitoring and controlling, and closing — you will more clearly understand the true nature of construction management, which is a key to successfully managing a construction project. You can't afford to be without this indispensible working tool and its step-by-step instructions, project management templates, and real world case studies.Key Features ¦ Walks you through the entire project management lifecycle resulting in a better understanding of the iterative processes of construction management ¦ Offers the information and real world tools needed to successfully apply to a planned or current project ¦ Shows how various knowledge areas and project management tools interact when doing a project providing you with the knowledge to create your own project plan ¦ Offers a downloadable building specification form, change order authorization form, construction schedule, sample budget, construction flowchart, a guide to working with bankers for spec home loans, and much more — available from the Web Added Value™ Download Resource Center at www.jrosspub.com

Download or read book Tips Traps for Hiring a Contractor written by R. Dodge Woodson and published by McGraw-Hill Education. This book was released on 2005-04-27 with total page 0 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Information for selecting, choosing, andworking with a contractor.

Download or read book Starting Your Career as a Contractor written by Claudiu Fatu and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2015-03-17 with total page 181 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This incisive, practical guide provides a thorough breakdown of the ins and outs everyone needs to know when turning contracting skills into a business. From summoning the motivation to start your own business to the intricacies of being your own boss, Claudiu Fatu artfully turns his personal experiences and those of other successful contractors into advice on every aspect of building a business. The chapters focus on: Developing a business structure, including bank accounts, tax registration, insurance, and branding Handling legal and accounting hurdles Managing employees and dealing with clients Using marketing systems to find and book work Estimating and bidding on jobs Writing contracts Creating invoices and a billing system Controlling costs, keeping records, and understanding profit margin Planning retirement and other benefits for the self-employed By teaching contractors to anticipate problems that can arise when dealing with clients, and to build a business plan that can support a contractor’s talents in the best way possible, Starting Your Career as a Contractor is the ultimate manual to getting the job done right! Allworth Press, an imprint of Skyhorse Publishing, publishes a broad range of books on the visual and performing arts, with emphasis on the business of art. Our titles cover subjects such as graphic design, theater, branding, fine art, photography, interior design, writing, acting, film, how to start careers, business and legal forms, business practices, and more. While we don't aspire to publish a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are deeply committed to quality books that help creative professionals succeed and thrive. We often publish in areas overlooked by other publishers and welcome the author whose expertise can help our audience of readers.