What does a general contractor do?

The short answer

A general contractor, often called a GC, is the one who runs a construction job from start to finish. Instead of you hiring a plumber, an electrician, a tile setter and a painter yourself, one contractor hires and manages them. You deal with one company, and that company answers for the work.

It sounds simple. It is a lot of coordination, and that coordination is the product.

Think of the GC as the person holding the whole plan in their head and on paper. They know when the drywall crew should come, what must be inspected first, and which material has to be ordered weeks ahead. If a tradesperson is late, the GC reshuffles. If an inspector wants a change, the GC arranges it. If you have a question, you ask one person.

That is also why the license matters. A general contractor is the party the state licenses and the party that answers to you for the whole job, not just one trade.

Before the work starts

• Visit and measure. A good GC looks at the actual space before giving a price.
• Write the scope and the estimate. The estimate lists what will be done, with what materials and what it costs. See how to compare estimates.
• Pull the permits. The GC applies for the permits the scope requires and pays the fees.
• Line up the trades and the materials. Plumbing, electrical, tile, drywall, flooring and the rest, in the right order.

While the work is under way

• Schedule the trades. Each trade needs to arrive after the one before is done and before the one after needs the space.
• Manage the job site. Safety, cleanup, protecting your home and keeping the crew on the plan.
• Meet the inspections. Inspectors check the work at set points. The GC schedules them and fixes anything that fails.
• Handle surprises. When something unexpected turns up, the GC decides with you what to do and puts any cost change in writing. See change orders.
• Keep you informed. You should hear what happened and what is next.

A day on a remodel might look like this: the crew arrives, protects the floors, does the day's work, cleans up and leaves the area safe. Behind that, the GC is ordering the next delivery, confirming the next trade, answering your text and watching for anything that does not match the plan. Most of a GC's value is invisible when it works, and very visible when it does not.

The paperwork a GC handles

Florida law puts real paperwork around a remodel. A GC should be able to explain each piece.

• The contract. For a direct contract over $2,500 on a home with up to four units, section 713.015 requires a lien-law notice in bold capital letters that you sign and date.
• The Notice of Commencement. Section 713.13 says it must be recorded before the work starts. See our guide.
• The final payment affidavit. Under section 713.06, the contractor gives a sworn affidavit when final payment is due, stating that those who sent notices are paid or listing who is not. See our lien law guide.

The license behind the title

In Florida, the state licenses contractors. Section 489.105 lists the types. A general contractor's work is described in the statute as "unlimited as to the type of work." Other license types are narrower. A certified contractor, the statute says, holds a certificate of competency that lets them contract in any jurisdiction in the state.

Check any contractor's license on myfloridalicense.com by name or license number. For the differences between license types, see our guide on CBC, CGC and CRC licenses.

What a GC does not do

• Hildebrand does not negotiate your insurance claim. After storm damage, it documents the damage and coordinates the construction scope with the adjuster. The claim itself is between you and your insurer.
• A GC is not always doing every trade personally. Many hire licensed trade partners. What matters is that someone licensed manages them and answers for the work.
• A GC does not replace your own decisions. You choose the finishes and approve the changes.

Small jobs under $2,500 are treated differently by Florida law. Our guide to the $2,500 handyman limit explains where that line sits, and the owner-builder guide covers acting as your own contractor.

How to tell a good one from a talker

• The license checks out. The number is on the contract and matches the state's records.
• The scope is in writing. Every item is spelled out, so there is nothing to argue about later.
• They talk about permits without being asked. A contractor who skips permits is passing a risk to you.
• They explain who does what. You know who is doing the plumbing, the electrical and the tile.
• They answer the hard questions. Ask what happens if they find a problem behind a wall, and listen.
• They do not rush you. A written estimate you can take home and read is a good sign.

Our list of questions to ask a remodeling contractor covers these in more detail.

How Hildebrand works as your general contractor

Hildebrand Construction & Remodeling is a Florida Certified Building Contractor, license CBC1257253, licensed since 2009. One licensed contractor runs the whole job, from the first visit to the final walk-through. The company pulls every required permit and meets the Florida Building Code inspections. Plumbing and electrical are done by licensed trade partners that Hildebrand manages and coordinates.

The scope, materials, timeline and warranty are written down before work begins. If something unexpected turns up behind a wall, the crew stops, shows you and gets your approval first. Read the process and the guarantee.

Questions homeowners ask