A homeowner asked Marilyn whether she could act as the general contractor on a project. We use that question to explain what a general contractor does and what happens when an owner chooses a different arrangement.
A general contractor hires and manages the specialists needed for the job. That includes checking subcontractors’ insurance, coordinating schedules, handling payments and keeping work moving between trades. Those gaps between trades matter. If a plumber needs blocking installed in a wall, someone has to arrange for it before the plumber can finish. A contractor’s established relationships can also affect pricing and availability.
Marilyn cannot simply take on the general contractor role as an architect. It calls for different licenses and insurance. She could, in some circumstances, serve as a construction manager advisor or an owner’s representative. In that setup, the homeowner holds the contracts and pays the trades, while the advisor helps manage the work. The exact duties need to be clear in a separate agreement. An owner’s representative can also work alongside a general contractor on a larger project.
We talk through why that arrangement might fit Marilyn’s client. The client has experience running projects but is busy, knows Marilyn well and has a project close to her office. If Marilyn also provides architectural services during construction, some duties would overlap. She would account for that overlap in her fees rather than charge twice for the same meeting or task. They have not decided how this project will proceed.
The owner still takes on more responsibility when there is no general contractor. Renovations bring deliveries, schedule changes and problems that need quick decisions. Sheri shares a project where painters left after another crew arrived. Because she had a general contractor, she could call him to get the painters back and finish the work.
Our advice is to choose the arrangement based on the people, their experience and the work involved. Interview anyone who would manage the project, understand the contract and be realistic about the owner’s role. Trying to save a contractor’s fee can cost more time and money if the team is unprepared.
(00:00) Intro
(00:50) What a general contractor does
(02:47) Coordinating subcontractors and the work between them
(04:00) Construction manager advisors and owner’s representatives
(06:18) How project roles can overlap
(07:24) Why saving money is not the only consideration
(08:40) Separate contracts and overlapping architect duties
(10:30) Choosing someone with the right experience
(11:42) The owner’s added responsibilities
(14:28) A scheduling problem on Sheri’s project
(16:03) Questions and guest invitations