How do you post a bid for a general contractor?

[richard]

What is the normal procedure for finding a general contractor to work with? Post an ad in a local newspaper or what?

[Rico dJour]

Do you think a good contractor would have to resort to reading the wanted ads?

R

[richard]

Why not? He doesn't know where his next job is coming from. If he doesn't, and his competitor does, he's gonna be pissed because the competitor got that million dollar job.

People from out of town don't know who does what, so they advertise.

[willshak]

richard wrote the following:

Check your local yellow pages or newspapers for contractor's ads. Also check with your local building department to see if they require contractors to be licensed, if so, then only look for licensed contractors. Licensed contractors are more likely to adhere to proper building and electrical codes, lest they lose their license.

[Rico dJour]

Yes, a good contractor does know where his next job is coming from - he has a backlog.

...million dollar job.... Yeah, right. Listen, you're not talking commercial construction or you wouldn't be asking so many random questions about random residential building methods that start off with "what's the cheapest way to...". There are places where commercial contracting is advertised, such as the Dodge Reports, but you will not be placing a listing in there any time soon since it costs MONEY. Not money - MONEY.

What normal people do is ask friends and neighbors who have had similar work done whether they'd recommend the contractor. That way they get to see the contractor's work and get an introduction/ reference. It works swell.

Other normal people would extend the net a bit further and ask at building supply houses (no, a big box store does not qualify), subcontractors, hardware stores and the like. They see if some names keep popping up on the recommendation list, then they take it from there. They also might call a trade organization such as NARI and ask for a few names of contractors in their area.

Other normal people normally would let their fingers do the walking at some point.

These imaginary people from out of town...they just drop in one day and decide to build? They know nobody at all? They are unfamiliar with the ask a neighbor, ask a supplier, check the yellow pages processes? Well, those people need to familiarize themselves with those processes and make some friends. Get off the computer, make a cheese ball and ring a doorbell and introduce themselves to the neighbors.

R

[jloomis]

Ask the local lumber yard for one. Look for construction sites and see who is doing what. Look in the phone book. Go online and type location and need. Talk the the local Building Dept. and see what you can find out about "local contractors" They may or may not give this information. If you are "friends" with any building inspector they will talk. Go to a hardware store and ask who does what. They usually have a "cork" board with General Contractor Cards, also. Go to a local sheet metal shop, a plumbing supply, a window supply, and electrical supply and ask a few questions about local contractors. These are some of the ways to find a building contractor.

What is the normal procedure for finding a general contractor to work with? Post an ad in a local newspaper or what?

[DanGLT]

Richard, I am guessing that this is a residential project rather than commercial.

Assuming you are talking about residential work, it is your or your architect's responsibility to contact builders. They will NOT be reading the classifieds looking for work. YOu might contact NAHB or similar for ideas.

Architects usually solicit interest in projects by contacting known generals. Commercial work is is normally advertised in Dodge or other local posting houses. Here it is Southwest News.

[Matt Barrow]

Do you think a good contractor would have to resort to reading the wanted ads?

R

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In some parts of the country, they're standing at the end of freeway off-ramps holding signs that say, "WILL BUILD STUFF FOR FOOD"! :-)

[Jay Zhu]

if it is a small project, you can go the following two review sites to get contractors' reputation:

(free) (paid)

if it is a big project, i suggest you prepare a request for proposal (RFP) and let contractors bid for it. in case you are not familiar with it, hire a CM firm or A/E firm to do it

Jay Zhu. P.E