The Pros and Cons of Hiring a General Contractor vs Multiple Subcontractors

As one of the finest home remodeling companies in Iowa, we often hear this question: Should I hire a general contractor or can I hire multiple sub-contractors?

Generally, homeowners ask this question because they understand that there is a lot of work to be done. By hiring out each task—carpentry, drywall, painting, windows, electric, plumbing, etc—to a specialist, homeowners believe that they’ll receive better work at a lower price.

Unfortunately, this isn’t always the case. When multiple contractors are working on the same job, the situation often becomes confusing. Workers get in each other’s way. People disturb the work of others. And, as a result, the quality usually suffers and the project length increases.

Therefore, it’s best to limit the number of contractors on each job. By hiring a general contractor to handle most of the work (more on this below), you’ll save yourself a huge headache (and potentially even money).

Managing Multiple Contractors is a Pain in the Butt

Imagine that you’ve hired a contracting company to remodel your home. They come in with their tools, they tear down the walls, they complete the rough-in, and then they rebuild. Everything looks great.

Now, imagine that you’ve hired a painting subcontractor to come in and paint. The general contractor leaves to let the painters do their thing.

At some point, however, something is broken. It could be a hole in the floor, a broken piece of drywall, or any other potential accident.

…Who gets blamed?

…Who has to pay for the extra labor and materials?

Someone has to pay for it, of course. After all, the drywall contractor needs to come in and patch up the wall. Or, the carpenter needs to come in and fix the floor. But, if everyone claims that it’s not their fault (which happens more than you’d think), it’s the customer whose left to foot the bill.

So, managing multiple subcontractors can turn out to be a huge headache for everyone. A general contractor, on the other hand, has one foreman who will ensure that everyone is held accountable for what happens during the project.

However…Some Jobs Do Require Multiple Subcontractors

Of course, there are certain tasks that require multiple contractors. For example, some electrical work requires a professional electrician. So, if we discover that there are problems with the electrical system, we may have to contract that work out to our electricians.

Occasionally, we’ll contract out plumbing work, as well. Nearly every member of our team is a handyman, but there are some tasks that require a licensed plumber.

But, we could save you some money

We’ve worked as contractors in Iowa for a while now. During our careers, we’ve built relationships with plumbers and electricians in the area. As a result, we’re often able to contract out work at a reasonable price. HomeWorx also uses a small group of the same subcontractors. This ensures the work will be done right as we’ve worked with these subs on many jobs previously.

If you hire us as the general contractor for your project, we’ll do our best to help you save money on any subcontractors who need to be involved.

Choosing The Best General Contractor in Des Moines, Iowa

There’s no reason to hire multiple subcontractors if one company can handle all of the work. Doing so can cause confusion, increase the length of the project, and rack up additional costs. This is why it is crucial to hire a quality contractor like HomeWorx to trust with your project. If you have any questions, or want to learn more about working with HomeWorx, contact us today! We would love to help in any way we can.