When looking for General Contractors Oklahoma find someone with the right amount of experience and expertise for your project. They should also be fully licensed and have a solid list of references.

GCs often get work through what’s called a request for proposals (RFP). These are bids from clients asking for a contractor to build something.

A general contractor will have staff members in charge of the business side of things, but they’ll also need to rely on subcontractors. These are specialized workers who do the actual construction work and often provide their own equipment. Hiring subcontractors saves time, reduces the risk of legal liabilities, and can keep a project on schedule. Managing these relationships can be challenging, but it’s a vital part of the job.

The most important thing for a general contractor to do when working with subcontractors is to make sure they’re always on the same page. Whether they’re discussing budgets, scheduling, or anything else, it’s crucial that these individuals are always in the loop and understand exactly what’s expected from them. This can be done through consistent communication and by making use of digital management tools like Bridgit Bench.

Project planning is another essential part of the job, and it involves dividing a large construction project into manageable segments. The GC will then create timelines and assign tasks to each team. This prevents the overall project from getting behind and allows the GC to monitor the progress of each team.

Another critical responsibility is financial management, and it’s a common practice for GCs to hire dedicated finance professionals to handle the accounting and bookkeeping. This ensures the GC remains within budget and can avoid paying for unnecessary services or materials.

Finally, the GC is responsible for ensuring that all subcontractors are paid on time and in full. This can be tricky because it requires the GC to front the cost of materials and labor, which can put a lot of pressure on cash reserves and lead to subcontractors being paid late or not at all. However, a savvy GC will look into solutions like the first payment option and other options that protect them from slow-paying clients.

Negotiating Contracts

Construction projects are complex, and there’s a lot of work to do. In order for the project to move forward smoothly, all the parties involved must be on the same page and understand their roles. This is where a general contractor comes in. They help manage the big-picture planning and coordinating of tasks and materials while also keeping everyone up to date on changes, deadlines, and other important details.

In addition, they negotiate contracts and bids on behalf of the client. For example, they may be responsible for creating a bid that lists estimates of how much time and labor will be required to complete the job. This is often called a Request for Proposal (RFP).

General contractors typically employ a team of specialist subcontractors to carry out the actual building work. This allows them to offer a wide range of services at an affordable price.

It’s important that clients take the time to interview and select the right general contractor for their job. While fully licensed with a strong track record and glowing references are necessary checkboxes, it’s equally as important that the client choose someone they can get along with. They’ll be working closely together for several months at a minimum, so the best contractors have the ability to effectively communicate and explain complicated issues in a way that makes sense to all parties.

It’s also a good idea to shop around for cost estimates before choosing a general contractor for a project. A little shopping can go a long way in helping a homeowner save money, especially if they are willing to negotiate with the contractor for lower prices. It can also be helpful to seek out cost estimates during the slower construction seasons, such as winter or summer, when many contractors are more willing to budge on their prices.

Scheduling Work

GCs have significant responsibilities before, during, and after construction that help projects come to fruition on time and on budget. Whether you’re planning an office build, a large home remodel or addition, or just sprucing up your property to sell it, a general contractor can help.

Before any work begins on a project, the GC will assess the site, the building specifications, and the scope of the work to determine what the job will require. Depending on the project delivery method, the GC may submit a fixed price proposal, bid, cost-plus price, or estimate to the owner.

The GC will then hire subcontractors to complete the specific construction work needed for the project. This includes hiring plumbers, electricians, masons, carpenters, and iron workers. GCs will also manage the schedule and oversee the work of each contractor to ensure that construction is completed on time and in accordance with the original design plans.

While a GC doesn’t usually complete construction work themselves, they are familiar with construction techniques so that they can effectively manage their subcontractors. They also know what materials are required and have connections to purchase them at discounted prices.

For these reasons, it’s generally best to work with a licensed general contractor for any construction or home improvement project. They will be able to guide you through the process and help you avoid costly mistakes. In most cases, additional costs can be prevented by staying on budget and communicating with your GC throughout the project.

If you’re looking for a general contractor in New York, Sweeten’s network has thousands of pre-vetted contractors ready to work with you. They’ve helped homeowners create everything from penthouse apartments in downtown Manhattan to modern townhomes in Brooklyn, and they’re familiar with the city’s unique requirements.

Overseeing the Jobsite

Whether you are building a new construction project or simply remodeling a home, general contractors oversee the entire crew to ensure the work meets local safety guidelines. They also have a number of other important duties, such as managing subcontractors and on-site team management. They are also often involved in the process of obtaining building permits.

The skills and services that general contractors offer are in high demand. With the right business model, you can easily attract more clients and grow your construction firm.

For example, if you want to expand your firm’s capabilities and make it more competitive, you can offer design review, constructability review, and preliminary budgeting as part of your general contracting services.

Another important way you can improve your service offerings is to focus on jobsite efficiency. Having a well-organized jobsite helps workers complete tasks on time and ensures that everyone is aware of their specific work areas. A well-planned jobsite can also boost productivity and help keep the workplace safe.

Lastly, you can reduce payment delays by streamlining paperwork and maintaining open lines of communication with your subcontractors. Aside from these steps, you can also take proactive measures to improve the quality of your subcontractors’ work. For instance, you can require them to have proof of liability insurance and a valid contractor’s license before hiring them for your projects.

The pandemic has presented many challenges to the construction industry, but many companies are recovering and planning for a future of growth. With global supply chains, an inherent need for on-site workers, and a client base that depends on optimism, the industry is at a critical inflection point.

Managing Payments

When it comes to payment, contractors can’t afford to make mistakes. Not only does it cost money to pay subcontractors for their work, but also the time and effort to collect and approve payment applications.

A payment application is the document that a general contractor submits to the client to request progress payments for work on a construction project. A payment schedule is usually set up in the contract to establish when these are due. This could be based on a calendar, set dates for each month, or percentages of the total job. GCs often request a payroll report and/or a statement of values (SOV) from the subcontractors in order to prove that labor expenses have been incurred. If a sub doesn’t provide these, they can expect payment to be delayed for multiple pay cycles until the missing documents are provided.

The GC accounting team typically reviews these documents to ensure that the subs have accounted for all of their labor and materials. They look at each line item for accuracy and verify that the work was completed. Additionally, they look for red flags such as incomplete lien waivers or expired compliance docs. If there are any issues, the GC will follow up with the subs to resolve them.

In addition to ensuring that all of this paperwork is in order, the GC also has to submit their own overhead and fee. For this, they use a construction billing software like Siteline to automate the process. This tool sends reminders to PMs to edit invoices, automatically requests all lower-tier lien waivers and SOVs, and creates complete, accurate payment applications that can be submitted with a click.