Question: Is it better for a Contractor to have their own employees performing the work, or are sub-contractors OK?
Answer:
That depends on who their sub-contractors (subs) are, and how many they use on your job. If your prime contractor has a good relationship with a few reputable subs, they may be able to perform their duties just as well as an employee. I would say that in most cases however it is advantageous to work with a prime contractor that at a minimum has a project supervisor as an employee.
Don't get me wrong, all contractors use subs at one time or another on most jobs. Not many contractors can afford to have licensed electricians and plumbers, or heating specialists and masons on payroll. Even drywall, rough carpentry, and flooring can be "Subbed" out efficiently. I believe that most contractors have found that you must also utilize your own employees on jobs to keep control. Let's face it, a sub-contractor simply cannot provide the same customer care as an employee of the prime contractor who's job it is to keep customers happy. Bottom line is the more subs a contractor uses, the less control he has over the job.
One of the biggest complaints we hear about remodeling contractors is job delays. One cause of delays is workers not showing up on the job, and I'll bet my new sawzall that its a sub-contractor who is messing up the schedule. How can a prime contractor control the employees of a sub? He cannot. So what do they do? They hire their own employees.
There is a down side to this equation though, employees cost money. Employee Insurance and taxes are one of the largest overhead costs a contractor can have. Inevitably he must add these costs into his price. If a remodeling job does not run smoothly it's the customer that pays the price with frustration and headaches. I believe that consumers put too much weight on the monetary price of a job alone and end up with a poor contractor. They don't realize that there may be a heavy price to pay for a low price.
Check out your contractor thoroughly and try to look beyond price alone.
Answered by: Patrick Benkowski, CR
President - Roadrunner Custom Remodeling Inc.