Hiring a general contractor to handle modular home construction in Michigan has its pros and cons, as follows:
Pros of working with a general contractor
- This is the simplest way to get a large project completed.
- May be the least expensive based on competitive bidding (other than self-contracting)
- One-point responsibility for materials, workmanship, scheduling, and budget controls. If there’s a problem, it’s the general contractor’s responsibility to fix it.
- A good general contractor will have good subs, who show up on time and do work to the standards set by the general contractor.
- If you have a good contract, and a fair payment schedule, you will some leverage throughout the project. You should always make the final payment contingent on all work being completed properly.
Cons of working with a general contractor
- There are no checks and balances, so you have to put a lot of trust in the general contractor.
- If there are problems, there’s no one to mediate . You got to work things out directly with the contractor, who probably knows a lot more than you about construction.
- If the contractor writes his own plans and specs, it may be difficult for you to evaluate them for quality and completeness. Does the bid include everything you want done?
- If the general contractor cuts corners, or doesn’t properly supervise subs, work quality can suffer. How will you know?
- If there are problems, delays, change orders, and upcharges, you have limited leverage in negotiations.