Home Improvement Contractor - Licensed Contractors

On a new home construction, what is the going rate for a General Contractor?

Is a % of the budget or a flat rate more common? What are the main job responsibilities of a General Contractor?

Public Comments

1. The general contractor is the middle man between owner and sub.s. He or She is to handle the timing of the different trades- like foundation but the plumber has to work before they can pour the concrete! and so on. Contractors usually get 10-20 percent of the over all job. He has to be observant when it comes to Safety and timing of materials and trades. And ensure work is completed on time! and costs are controlled with in reason! Price changes on materal,unseen labor and weather factors.
2. The general contractor (GC) organizes the project so that all the work gets done in the right order, to the right quality standards, and according to building codes. He's the one who makes sure the subcontractors (specialists such as plumbers, electricians, masons, etc) know what they're supposed to do and when they're supposed to do it. A GC is like a general on the battlefield. Here's how This Old House general contractor Tom Silva describes the job: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/asktoh/question/0,,682973,00.html?xid=yahoo-answers&partner=yes And here's what to look for in a good GC: http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/0,,213359,00.html?xid=yahoo-answers&partner=yes