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Contractors, Subcontractors, and Employing Them
Whether you are involved in a small or large building project, it is likely that you will need to engage the services of a contractor, subcontractor or both. But what do contractors and subcontractors do, and how do you ensure that you are hiring the right person for your project? Read on to learn more.
What is a Contractor?
In the most general of terms, a contractor is a person that has agreed to fulfill the terms of a legally binding agreement or contract. Usually speaking, a contractor refers to a person in the building field that hires workers – or subcontractors – in order to actually build the home or project. While a contractor generally focuses on hiring and supervising subcontractors, they may opt to perform some of work stipulated in the contract themselves. The contractor is responsible for the quality of the work carried out by subcontractors.
What is a Subcontractor?
A subcontractor is a person or a business that signs a contract to carry out all or part of another person’s contract. Subcontractors are often hired by a contractor in order to perform a specific part of the project. The subcontractor will relieve the main contractor of part of the work involved in the project, or they will be able to perform the work to a higher level or lower cost that the main contractor will be able to.
As an example, a contractor might be contracted to build a home. The contractor, as part of the project, may hire an electrician or an electrical firm in order to carry out all of the electrical work required in the home.
Employing Contractors and Subcontractors
First and foremost, you have to ensure that your contractor or subcontractor is correctly licensed. You can check the details of the license by asking for their license card or documentation, or through the relevant state or national authority if you are in any doubt. Using an unlicensed professional can be dangerous as you will be responsible for any injuries that occur while they are working on your project, and there is no legal recourse if you are not satisfied with the work that is performed.
One of the best things to do when hiring a contractor or a subcontractor is to get references from people. Ensure that the people you contact have had similar work performed, and that they were satisfied with the level of work carried out. Get quotations from different contractors. Do not necessarily go for the lowest quote. It is best to pay a little bit more if it means that you are more comfortable with your contractor.
Many projects will involve a contract. This contract should not be signed until you have thoroughly read through the contract and ensured that the contractor is correctly licensed and insured for the work that they will be performing. If there is anything that you don’t clearly understand, ask questions of the contractor, or take the contract to a lawyer for clarification. Changes should be made on your request. The contract needs to include the specific aspects of the job, cleanup and removal of debris, and any follow up or guarantees are provided.
Subcontractors are generally hired by the builder that is the main contractor of the project. They are hired to complete specialised tasks. In this case, the subcontractors are answerable to the main contractor. If you wish to hire the subcontractor yourself, follow the same criteria as you would when choosing a contractor. That is, get recommendations, interview the subcontractor, get quotations, and set a payment schedule. Ensure that you are comfortable with who you choose.
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