Additions and structural changes
Adding square footage, a second story, or taking down walls to open up a floor plan. This work changes the structure of the home, so it involves foundation, framing, and the trades that follow.
// General Contracting
Start your project with a general contractor you choose.
When a job needs more than one trade, a general contractor runs the whole thing. The ones you see here are already licensed, insured, and vetted, so you pick the one you want and your request goes to that one. Free for homeowners.
Every contractor here is licensed, insured, and vetted before they're listed. You pick the one you want, and your request goes to that one.
Vetted Pros Only
What a general contractor handles
A general contractor is the one person responsible for a whole construction project. They line up and schedule the trades, pull the permits, call in the inspections, and manage the contract and the payments, so you are not coordinating a dozen subcontractors yourself. Most homeowners hire a general contractor for one of three kinds of work:
Major and whole-home renovations
A gut renovation or a remodel large enough to touch several rooms and systems at once: walls, wiring, plumbing, heating and cooling, and finishes.
Custom ground-up builds
Building a home from the land up, from site work and foundation through framing and final finishes.
Smaller single-trade jobs usually go straight to a specialty contractor. A general contractor is for the projects big enough to need someone managing all the moving parts.
// General Contracting work by vetted pros
When people bring in a general contractor, and what they ask first
Most homeowners do not go looking for a general contractor out of curiosity. Something brings them: a growing family that needs more room, a parent moving in, a plan to stay in the home for the long haul, or systems and spaces that have aged past the point of patching. Whatever the reason, the first questions tend to be the same:
Question 01
Will my project need a permit, and who pulls it?
For anything structural, the answer is usually yes, and the contractor should pull it, not ask you to. A contractor who wants the permit in your name is a sign to slow down.
Question 02
What insurance do they carry, and who pays if someone is hurt on the job?
A general contractor should carry general liability and workers' compensation, so an injury or accident on your property is not your problem to cover.
Question 03
Can I see references, and was the work finished on time?
Real references and a straight answer about scheduling tell you more than a sales pitch.
Question 04
Whose warranty covers the work if a subcontractor's part fails?
The general contractor stands behind the project, and a clear written warranty says for how long and on what.
A vetted general contractor should welcome these questions. The vetting here checks the license, the insurance, and the standing before a contractor can join, so you are starting from a shorter list of people who can already answer them.
What affects the cost
No two projects price the same, but the things that move the number are consistent. The size and complexity of the work drives most of it: a straightforward layout costs less to frame and finish than one with bump-outs, rooflines, and structural changes. Site conditions matter on bigger jobs, where soil, slope, and access can add real cost before the building even starts. And the finishes you choose, from standard to high-end, swing the total as much as the structure does.
How a contractor prices the job is worth understanding too. A fixed-price contract sets one number for a defined scope, which works when the plans are complete. A cost-plus contract bills the actual cost plus a set fee, which fits projects with unknowns. A guaranteed-maximum-price contract is a middle path: you see the real costs, with a cap. On larger jobs, payments are usually tied to milestones, released as each stage passes inspection, rather than paid up front.
If you need a way to pay for the work, financing options are available through trusted lending partners. You choose what works for you, there is no pressure, and the platform stays free for homeowners.
How to choose a general contractor
The difference between a project that goes well and one that goes sideways usually comes down to who you hire. A few things are worth checking before you commit:
License and standing
In most states a residential general contractor has to be licensed, and the license should be active and in the right classification. Some states do not license at the state level, so local registration and trade certifications matter more there.
Insurance and bonding
General liability and workers' compensation protect you if something goes wrong on site. A surety bond, where required, adds another layer.
A clear, complete contract
It should spell out the scope, the schedule, how change orders are priced in writing, and the payment milestones, with no blank spaces.
A written warranty
Good contractors stand behind their work for a defined period and put it in writing.
// Warning signs When to keep looking
The red flags are just as consistent: a bid far below the others, a demand for a large cash deposit up front, pressure to pull the permit yourself, or a push to finance through one specific lender they know. Any of these is a reason to keep looking.
// A platform, not a contractor
A shorter, safer list. The choice stays yours.
This is the part the platform is built to take off your plate. Our general contractors are vetted before they can join, by people who spent their careers in the trades and know how to judge a contractor's license, insurance, record, and work. We are a platform that connects you with contractors; the contractor owns the project and the relationship. What you get is a shorter, safer list to choose from, and the choice stays yours.
Start your project →Good to know before you start
A few terms and a couple of myths that come up on almost every project:
Draw schedule
The plan for releasing payments as the work hits milestones, not all at once. It protects you and keeps the job funded as it goes.
Lien waiver
A signed receipt from a subcontractor or supplier confirming they were paid. Collecting these matters, because of the next point.
The lowest bid is rarely the cheapest
A bid well under the rest usually means something was missed, or the gap comes back later as change orders. Price the bids against the same scope before you compare them.
Paying your contractor in full does not always clear subcontractor claims
If the general contractor does not pay their subcontractors, those subcontractors can sometimes file a claim against your home, even after you have paid. Lien waivers are how you protect against it.
A long structural warranty does not cover everything
Most new-build warranties are tiered: finishes for a short window, systems a bit longer, and only the major structural parts for the long term.
// Vetted, licensed, insured
// Find a vetted contractor
Find a vetted general contractor near you
Every general contractor here is licensed, insured, and vetted before they're listed. You pick the one you want, and your request goes to that one. Your information is not sold to a list of companies who race to call you.
Start your project, choose your area, and see the vetted contractors near you.
Start your project →Common questions
Do I need a general contractor, or can I hire the trades myself?
For a single-trade job, a specialty contractor is usually the right call. For a project that involves several trades, permits, and inspections, a general contractor manages the sequence and carries the responsibility, which is hard to do well on your own.
Who pulls the permits?
The contractor doing the work should pull the permit. If a contractor asks you to pull it in your name, treat it as a warning sign.
How are payments usually handled?
On larger projects, through a draw schedule: payments released as the work passes each milestone and inspection, rather than a large sum up front.
Is this free for me?
Yes. The platform is free for homeowners, always. You choose your contractor and connect with them directly.
Ready to start? Find your vetted contractor.
Start your project → FREE FOR HOMEOWNERS // YOU CHOOSE YOUR PRO