It is very important that Owners only use licensed and insured contractors. Unfortunately, there are many people and businesses working without one or both, especially in the State of FL. Unlicensed and/or Uninsured contractors offer little or no protections and can become a huge risk for anyone hiring them to do work. Not to mention, as a licensed and insured contractor, we work very hard and spend a lot of money in order to have up to date and adequate license and insurance. Also, please note, many contractors may start out having a license or insurance, but forget or choose not to renew and have ongoing coverage to save money. It is important to always request up to date licenses and insurance prior to starting any project.
Fortunately, it can be fairly easy to check up on contractors and see that their license and insurance are active. Below are a few website recommendations where you can search by personal or business name.
Licensing
State of Florida DBPR - www.myfloridalicense.com
FL Dept of Corporations - www.sunbiz.org
Pinellas County - www.pcclb.com
Pasco County - www.pascocountyfl.net/index.aspx?NID=762
Hillsborough County - webapps.hillsboroughcounty.org/pgm/resources/onlineservices/contractors/
Insurance
Be sure to ask the contractor for an updated insurance certificate listing your name and address as the certificate holder.
Please note, many State of Florida licensed contractors, while licensed to work anywhere in state, need to register with each County and/or City on a yearly basis in order to pull permits in that jurisdiction.
Brandon Leske
Hybrid Construction LLC
Tampa General Contractor - Commercial and Residential
bleske@hybridgc.com
813-300-8019
Sunday, August 31, 2014
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
Contingency and the Unknown
One of the most important parts of pricing a project, I typically recommend, is a separate contingency. A contingency can be take a lot of pressure off both, the Contractor and the Owner, if it is included and understood from the very beginning. It can be considered an Owner's contingency, a Contractor's contingency, or both.
The reason a contingency is important is because pricing a project is not an exact science. There are a number of different items to consider when providing an estimate based on an Owner's scope of work. Specification and material decisions are very important since costs can vary greatly depending on what is selected (see blog 1/7/14 regarding the sequence of activities to get to a price). Also important, is the understanding that an Owner and Contractor should have regarding changes and unforeseen conditions. A Contractor can't always predict or know what may be behind walls, under floors, or damaged beyond repair if something is hidden. We have to make assumptions or estimating would take too much time and money. I typically recommend a contingency between 10-20% depending on the type and size of the project.
Working with a known contingency is a simple way to budget and plan for issues, if they arise. Whether it is unforeseen conditions, changes, upgrades, or finalizing spec changes, using a contingency should always be considered for a project.
Brandon Leske
Hybrid Construction LLC
Tampa Area General Contractor
813-300-8019
bleske@hybridgc.com
www.hybridgc.com
The reason a contingency is important is because pricing a project is not an exact science. There are a number of different items to consider when providing an estimate based on an Owner's scope of work. Specification and material decisions are very important since costs can vary greatly depending on what is selected (see blog 1/7/14 regarding the sequence of activities to get to a price). Also important, is the understanding that an Owner and Contractor should have regarding changes and unforeseen conditions. A Contractor can't always predict or know what may be behind walls, under floors, or damaged beyond repair if something is hidden. We have to make assumptions or estimating would take too much time and money. I typically recommend a contingency between 10-20% depending on the type and size of the project.
Working with a known contingency is a simple way to budget and plan for issues, if they arise. Whether it is unforeseen conditions, changes, upgrades, or finalizing spec changes, using a contingency should always be considered for a project.
Brandon Leske
Hybrid Construction LLC
Tampa Area General Contractor
813-300-8019
bleske@hybridgc.com
www.hybridgc.com
Tuesday, January 7, 2014
The Project Process - A Contractor's Overview
There are a number of different ways to approach any type of construction project, whether it is commercial or residential, a remodel, addition, or new construction, a process should be followed. Unfortunately, many contractors do not have a proper process and many projects can go down the wrong path quickly. Many problems can be avoided from the start, but this is sometimes the most overlooked portion of the project and can lead to issues with the Owner, including, but not limited to, undefined scope of work, miscommunication on what is expected or included, wrong material specifications, schedule issues, etc...
While many projects can have issues, complications, or require changes, many of these problems can be minimized greatly with a proper approach to the process.
Below is a summary/outline of a recommended approach to a project with a General Contractor. Following this guideline will provide the best opportunity for a successful project as well as create a better Contractor-Owner relationship. The items in bold are considered the most critical to providing an accurate estimate and getting the project started on the correct path.
1. Contractor Contact and Site Review
2. Discuss Scope of Work, Options
3. Provide Estimate
4. Questions/Clarifications
5. Determine Materials Specifications
6. Update Estimate and Provide Schedule
7. Contract/Proposal for Signature
8. Provide Owner with Lead Time Info and Decisions required
9. Permit (if necessary)
10. Work Start
11. Field Review for Conflicts, Confirm any Changes
12. Provide progress schedule, Updated Completion Date
13. Punch List
14. Project Completion/Closeout
Some of these items can take time to resolve and some can happen very quickly. A lot of it depends on how well prepared the Owner is for the project including what they want to do, what type of materials and design they want, and what the time frame for the project will be. The more info and decisions an Owner can provide will assist the contractor to prepare an accurate and cost effective proposal. It will also expedite the entire process from start to finish. I find that many Owners underestimate the time it takes to make all of the design and materials specification decisions. There are so many different options for every part of a project, it is important to be proactive about preparing for a project and/or allowing time for these important decisions to be made.
I hope this helps you understand the process a little better from a contractor's perspective.
Brandon Leske
Hybrid Construction LLC
Tampa Bay General Contractor
813-300-8019
bleske@hybridgc.com
www.hybridgc.com
While many projects can have issues, complications, or require changes, many of these problems can be minimized greatly with a proper approach to the process.
Below is a summary/outline of a recommended approach to a project with a General Contractor. Following this guideline will provide the best opportunity for a successful project as well as create a better Contractor-Owner relationship. The items in bold are considered the most critical to providing an accurate estimate and getting the project started on the correct path.
1. Contractor Contact and Site Review
2. Discuss Scope of Work, Options
3. Provide Estimate
4. Questions/Clarifications
5. Determine Materials Specifications
6. Update Estimate and Provide Schedule
7. Contract/Proposal for Signature
8. Provide Owner with Lead Time Info and Decisions required
9. Permit (if necessary)
10. Work Start
11. Field Review for Conflicts, Confirm any Changes
12. Provide progress schedule, Updated Completion Date
13. Punch List
14. Project Completion/Closeout
Some of these items can take time to resolve and some can happen very quickly. A lot of it depends on how well prepared the Owner is for the project including what they want to do, what type of materials and design they want, and what the time frame for the project will be. The more info and decisions an Owner can provide will assist the contractor to prepare an accurate and cost effective proposal. It will also expedite the entire process from start to finish. I find that many Owners underestimate the time it takes to make all of the design and materials specification decisions. There are so many different options for every part of a project, it is important to be proactive about preparing for a project and/or allowing time for these important decisions to be made.
I hope this helps you understand the process a little better from a contractor's perspective.
Brandon Leske
Hybrid Construction LLC
Tampa Bay General Contractor
813-300-8019
bleske@hybridgc.com
www.hybridgc.com
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