General Contractor vs. Remodeling Contractor: Which One Do You Need?

Embarking on a home renovation journey can breathe new life into your living space and easily increase the value of your home or property. It is a very exciting process and can be a daunting one, too. The trick lies in finding a contractor that best fits your needs, time frame, and quality expectations. Grand Rapids Remodeling Pros has been in the industry for decades. We believe in the perfect soulmate for you and your renovation needs, with a proper knack for getting things done right and with the gift of the timeline appealed. Trust us to get your dream space by following the right channels.

Let's say you have an exciting idea for a new kitchen or backyard deck, but where to start?

Knowing the difference between general contractors and remodeling contractors is essential. Let's figure this out together so you can identify the right pro for your situation. This knowledge equips you to make the right decisions on your home renovation project.

What is a General Contractor?

General contractors are the jack-of-all-trades pros to call when it comes to high-level, full-scope work, including managing complete construction and renovation projects. They have the basics covered, including framing and carpentry skills. Still, they also possess certain project-management chops, asking the right questions and immersing themselves in the various trades that make up a given project, fostering collaboration between the plumber, the painter, the electrician, and so on to bring a project to completion.

What is a Remodeling Contractor?

Meanwhile, the remodeling contractor is often more focused on improving things—updating physical houses, for example. If you're hiring one, check their license and credentials. Please don't confuse the specialized tradesperson, like a plumber or electrician, with the more general local contractor who can tend to do it all.

Key Differences Between General Contractors and Remodeling Contractors

Finally, if the consumer now knows exactly what a general and remodeling contractor does, it is time for us to elaborate on the main differences between the two. This will definitely help you out when you are looking to hire these specialists to renovate your house.

• Scope of Work: General contractors are involved with the entire project from design through completion, including acquiring permits, coordinating subcontractors, etc; they are generally responsible for the entire process and manage every detail involved. They're like the handymen of the construction world. Home remodeling contractors are involved with areas of a home that will need renovation. They will generally only work on certain parts (ex, Kitchen, Bathroom) of a home renovation.
• Licenses and insurance: Since general contractors are likely to be doing a greater variety of types of work (and may need state licenses because of that), they might have a broader license than those doing only the kinds of work that would be associated with remodeling contracts. Check both.
• Project Management: Sometimes, a general contractor performs project management for the entire building, from start to finish, but a remodeling contractor can often specialize in project management within one particular area of expertise.
• Pricing: General contractor work is typically done on a percentage of total costs; remodeling contractors' portions of the work are often quoted on an hourly rate or set price.

When to Hire a General Contractor vs. a Remodeling Contractor

If your project is simple and doesn't include complex physical modifications like new plumbing or electrical wiring, hiring a general contractor might be the right choice. On the other hand, if you are remodeling instead of repairing, a remodeling contractor is the better option. To determine who's the right person to manage your renovation project, bear these factors in mind:

• If your project is large and multiple rooms or areas of your home will need remodeling, hiring a general contractor is a good idea. It will save you time, and you won't have to coordinate the schedules of many separate contractors.
• For smaller projects, there are other options. If you want to remodel your kitchen or redo your bathroom, you'll be better off with a remodeling contractor. In this case, the specialist knows what tools are needed for the job and will complete your project to your specifications. At Grand Rapids Remodeling Pros, our number one pick for any Remodeling project is us.

Budget is everything. For a significant, complicated undertaking, you'll almost always need a general contractor. They offer a complete and accurate estimate of the costs of a project. For a simple, targeted project on the other end of the spectrum, an independent remodeling contractor might be very well-suited to an assignment. Specialized expertise – less overhead costs – should add up to a lower total spend… if everything goes right, of course.

Choosing the Right Professional for Your Home Renovation Needs in Grand Rapids

Whether dealing with a general contracting project or a remodeling specialist project, the key to success on a home improvement project is generally about using a general contractor and a remodeling specialist, especially if you specialize your work with either general contracting or remodeling only; you need to understand who is good at what they do so you can make better decisions on which tasks should be assigned to which professional. Grand Rapids Remodeling Pros specializes in doing large-scale projects with general contractors and special projects with remodeling specialists, both at a high-quality level.

If you need help, feel free to contact us today. We look forward to working with you! Call us, and let's make your new house feel more like home.