A DIY vibe to a home remodel can seem really cool — if you know what you're doing. If you don't, you could find out very quickly that working on your home takes a lot more time, money, and knowledge than you might have. This is where hiring professionals come in, but if the remodel is extensive enough, you might have trouble coordinating everyone. The solution is to hire a general contractor who will, then, hire the necessary professionals at the right times. The differences between how you handled the work and the general contractor handle the work will show up almost immediately.

You'll Make Payments to Them Unless You Have Prior Contracts Stating Otherwise

If you already have contracts with specific companies, you'll have to fulfill those, including paying those companies directly unless the general contractor can work out a deal. Other than that, however, once you start working with a general contractor, all other payments will go to the general contractor, who will then distribute it to subcontracting companies. Do speak with (or have the general contractor speak with) any companies you're already having work on the house about possibly redoing the contracts so that they subcontract to the general contractor. The more you can streamline payments so that you pay one person, the easier it will be to keep track of costs.

You Might Find You Need More Permits Than You Realized

Sometimes the work that requires permits can be a little surprising. You might think you're just changing a small part of your property, but your city and county might want to know about it. If you do the work without getting the right permits, then you could end up with fines or an order to have the work redone at your expense. A general contractor can determine what needs a permit, or they can find out from their subcontractors about additional permits and go through the process to get those.

The Order of the Work Might Change

Remodeling actually has to be done in a specific order. You don't want to install new floors only to have them ruined as workers bring in new appliances and cabinets, for example. You may have had a certain schedule in mind, but the general contractor might rearrange that as soon as they take a look at what you need to be done.

A good general contractor will keep you up to date on how the work is going and whether there might be any delays. When the work is done, you'll be able to see just why a general contractor is such a necessary part of remodeling and other construction projects.

Contact a local general contractor for more information.