What You Should Look for in a General Contractor
Finding the right general contractor for your project can seem overwhelming, so we're here to make the process a bit easier! These are the things you should look for in a general contractor:
✔ Experience Construction projects can be stressful for everyone involved. An experienced contractor goes a long way in preventing unnecessary headaches. Nate Hope has a bachelor’s degree from BYU-Idaho in construction management and has been in the construction industry for 20 years. He’s been running his own business as a general contractor since 2009.
✔ Licensed and insured If a contractor isn't licensed and insured, don't hire him! Hope Custom Building is licensed and insured in the state of Utah. We can provide our license number and insurer upon request.
✔ Fairly priced A fair price for both you and your contractor is important. A contractor who isn't making enough money on your job will want to move on as quickly as possible, and the quality of your project may suffer. Also, before jumping on the lowest bid you receive, be sure you're comparing apples to apples! Our bids are detailed and thorough, and they usually come in about middle-of-the-road in price. During your initial consultation, we'll discuss different options to meet your needs and budget.
✔ Friendly personality This is a definite plus that not every contractor has! You'll be interacting with your general contractor quite a bit, so you'll want someone who is pleasant to work with. Nate is patient, easy to talk to, and is someone you can feel comfortable around.
✔ Honest & dependable You'll be opening your home to your general contractor and his subcontractors, so you should absolutely be able to trust them and feel safe having them around. Nate is honest and straightforward, and only hires trustworthy, hard-working subcontractors. We can also provide references upon request for further peace of mind.
✔ Good communication Basements, additions, remodels… These projects involve many phases. Subcontractors will be in and out. Your general contractor will take care of all coordinating and planning, but he should keep you apprised as best as possible. He should also be easily accessible if you have any concerns or questions. We know how frustrating poor communication can be, so we do our best to keep you informed and to respond in a timely manner. We're available to our clients via text, phone call, and email. Whichever is easiest for you!
✔ Quality, quality, quality! Some generals and subcontractors are used to letting certain things slide as long as it looks "good enough." Not at Hope Custom Building! We pride ourselves on our excellent quality and attention to detail as we aim to exceed the level of workmanship found in our clients’ existing homes. Our subcontractors also know that we have a higher standard of quality that must be met.
We hope this list has been helpful and informative! We're confident in our qualifications and abilities as home builders and renovators, and we feel that our company motto embodies the core values of Hope Custom Building:
“Where quality meets integrity.”
But don’t just take our word for it — read reviews from some of our many satisfied clients, check out photos of our work, then contact us and we’ll talk about your project! We look forward to hearing from you!
“My rating of Hope Custom Building might sound too good to be true. However, our experience with this builder was just that... TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE! From the beginning/planning stages Nate was very professional and helpful. He listened to what our “vision” of our new deck was and drew up the perfect plan for our deck. He made suggestions that led us to making informed decisions about the design, colors, and quality of the new deck. During the entire building process, Nate and his crew were hardworking and professional. I was amazed at the care and concern for detail that went into each phase of the project. Each day, Nate and the crew cleaned up the backyard. (It was as if they hadn’t been there... yet we could tell by their progress that they had been hard at work!) We appreciated this so much. We were able to use the backyard after they were gone each day. There is NO QUESTION that Nate is an honest man and runs his business with integrity! He was straight-forward about projected costs. He kept us updated and informed throughout the job. The final outcome—our BEAUTIFUL custom deck—is amazing! This deck will add so much value to our home and much enjoyment to our lives. Many thanks to Hope Custom Building. It was a pleasure doing business with them!”
S. Sandberg | Pleasant Grove, Utah
