One of the first decisions on any renovation is whether to hire a general contractor or go directly to specialty trades. The right choice depends on scope complexity and your availability to manage the work yourself.
When a General Contractor Makes Sense
Hire a GC when multiple trades need to be coordinated, when permits are required and someone needs to manage inspections, when the project has scheduling dependencies between trades, or when you do not have time to manage subcontractors. Full kitchen and bath remodels, ADU construction, and room additions all benefit from GC management.
When Direct Specialty Hiring Makes Sense
Single-trade projects — painting only, flooring only, roof replacement — do not require a GC. Adding one only adds overhead without improving outcomes.
The Coordination Cost
Scheduling plumbers, electricians, and tile setters in the correct sequence while managing permits and inspections is a part-time job for the project duration. Most homeowners find GC management overhead is worth the cost on multi-trade scopes.