At some point during the architectural design process, it will be time to start locating a general contractor and/or subcontractors to perform required work. By this time, you should have already decided whether you will serve as general contractor or hire a general contractor to manage the project. If you are hiring a general contractor, there are two approaches.
The first approach is to find a trusted general contractor to work with you through the design process. Allowing the general contractor to have input in the budgeting and design process and may lead to savings if he or she can suggest alternate materials and details early in the process. There will also be a time savings because you won't have to wait for multiple contractors to bid the project from the completed construction documents. However, you have to really trust the contractor to be fair in pricing. If the contractor knows your budget, it's likely that the project will end up costing that amount!
The second approach is to competitively bid the project to two or more contractors. This approach requires you to have a complete set of construction documents to ensure you are comparing equivalent scopes of work. If different contractors are making different assumptions, you will be unable to compare the bids side-by-side. It is not necessarily appropriate to take the lowest bid - you make sure that the bid you accept is including all the work you want done and that the quality of work will be acceptable.
Locating contractors and subcontractors involves:
Your architect can assist in the contractor selection process by providing preliminary drawings, evaluating bids, and answering questions.
Verify that all contractors you work with are licensed and insured for your project. Insurance covers injury to workers on site and damage to property caused by the contractor – your homeowner’s insurance policy may not appropriate coverage for construction. You may request that the contractor furnish you with a "certificate of insurance". This certificate should be faxed or mailed directly from the insurance company and reference your specific name and address. Do not accept any other proof of insurance.
A lien is a legal encumbrance on the deed to a property ensuring that it cannot change hands until the lien holder is paid. As you make payments to your contractors throughout the construction process, always request signed lien wavers. If you are working with a general contractor, ask for signed lien waivers from all subcontractors before releasing the final payment. The lien waiver ensures that you cannot be “double-billed” for services. For example, consider a draw payment submitted by the general contractor that includes the electrical rough-in. You pay the general contractor and assume that the electrician gets paid subsequently. However, if for some reason the electrician does not receive the money owed, he or she can place a lien against your property for that amount. In order to release the lien you could end up paying for the same work twice.