For some remodeling projects you’d be crazy not to hire a general contractor, but there are also those jobs where you can save a lot of money by organizing the renovation on your own. As a rule, if it’s going to take longer than a week and the job requires more than two people to complete, you would probably be better off with professional assistance. Here are some examples of projects where having a professional manager is essential. Structural ChangesIf you’re planning on knocking down a wall, expanding a room, changing the angle of the floor, or anything else that will involve significant structural changes to a room, you will need a general contractor. Not only are these jobs very dangerous and complex, but also you will need permits from the city in order to proceed with the work. What may seem like a straightforward rerouting of pipes or wires may cause you a big headache if you don’t follow the local regulations. Don’t try to hide from council officials either. Nosey neighbors will report you, which can mean you’ll need to add paying off legal fines to your remodeling budget. Several Sub ContractorsHomeowners can typically handle supervising one or two tradesmen at a time, but if you need several in order to complete a project on your schedule, it will be a full time job keeping everyone organized and on target. A general contractor is like a director of a movie. They keep everyone on task and make sure jobs are performed in the most logical order. You don’t want the carpets to be laid before the paint has been applied. They are also your eyes and ears if you can’t be there. If someone isn’t performing quality work or is slacking off, they can step in and find a solution so your money and time isn’t wasted. MaterialsDo you know where to get the best materials? If the best answer you can come up with is the Internet, you aren’t going to get as a great a deal as you might think. People who work in the construction industry have several contacts, and may just have some extra tiles or a nice hunk of polished concrete that would fit perfectly in your kitchen, and they can give you a good price for it. They can also help give you some design tips and ideas, giving you an overview of some possible less expensive materials available that you haven’t even considered. ProtectionWhen a DIY project goes wrong, it’s entirely your responsibility to fix it. When you have a general contractor working for you, the problem is theirs to worry about, which can be a great relief. For example, if it starts raining on site and you can’t make it there to shield any exposed areas, you can rest assured a project manager will be on it. They also will provide customers with some form of warranties if something does break, collapse, or catches fire a few months after completion.

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