General Contractor vs Project Manager: Which One is Perfect for You?

Imagine this: you’re planning to build your dream home in Minnetonka. You’ve got the perfect lot picked out, and your Pinterest board is overflowing with design inspirations. All that’s left is figuring out who will bring your vision to life!

When it comes down to hiring a professional for new construction or remodeling work, there are two options: a general contractor or a project manager. Both have different roles in the construction process and can provide distinct benefits depending on what you’re looking for.

Today, we’ll explore what exactly a general contractor vs project manager does throughout each phase of the construction process. Whether knowing when to hire one over the other (or both!) or simply understanding how they can help complete your entire unique project scope within budget – we’ve got all bases covered! So let’s dig deep into this topic so that later you can pick the right man for your desired project!

Who is a general contractor?

A general contractor is responsible for overseeing the entire construction process. They typically handle hiring subcontractors and managing their work while also ensuring that all building materials are ordered and delivered on time. 

This type of construction professional may also provide services like obtaining permits, scheduling inspections, and communicating with the project owner to ensure that the final outcome meets expectations. 

For example, if you’re building a custom home in Minnetonka, USA, a reputable company like Brewer Built LLC can help manage every aspect of your project with expert hands as a general contractor!

Who is a project manager?

A project manager is responsible for ensuring that a construction project is completed within the specified budget, timeline, and quality standards that are agreed upon by both parties (i.e., the construction company and owner). 

They work closely with all stakeholders involved in the project to ensure ideal communication practices while also managing risks. Project managers may oversee costs, the scheduling of tasks, including time management, and workforce planning tools, such as Gantt charts, etc., from start to finish.

Roles and responsibilities of a general contractor

As a homeowner looking to build your dream property, a general contractor will come to you as a significant figure. They effectively manage your entire project, from pre-construction to post-construction stages. Let’s dive into understanding their roles and responsibilities in detail!

• Pre-construction

The pre-construction stage sets the foundation for a successful project. General contractors will work with you to establish budgets, timelines, and permits while ensuring that your vision aligns with realistic outcomes. 

Hiring an experienced general contractor may save up to 20% on project costs by avoiding potential delays and fixing mistakes early in the process. Trust us when we say, – it’s better to be safe than sorry!

• Construction

Construction management is where your project starts coming to life! General contractors will manage every aspect of the build process, including but not limited to supervising subcontractors, ordering materials, and scheduling inspections. 

The construction phase of a project demands experience in field management, as a single misstep can result in costly issues’ rippling effects down the line. Having someone who effectively monitors costs without compromising quality, or what we call “cutting corners,” is crucial for general contracting success.

• Post-construction

Post-construction is the final sealing stage of your project. Here, general contractors will ensure that all tasks are completed within budget and to the clients’ satisfaction. This includes testing appliances or lighting controls and tidying up construction waste.

At this critical juncture, we highly recommend a detailed assessment review to guarantee everything you imagined has been executed per plan. So take time to inspect every detail before calling it a wrap!

Roles and responsibilities of a project manager

The role of a project manager is to plan, organize, lead, communicate, and monitor construction projects. From coordinating work schedules to managing budgets and ensuring deadlines are met, a project manager ensures the entire scope of your custom home building or remodeling experience runs smoothly!

• Planning

Planning is a crucial aspect of any construction project, and it’s the primary responsibility of your project manager. They create a comprehensive plan outlining every step from start to finish in accordance with all permitted regulations in your locality. 

By doing so, they help ensure cost efficiency and productivity are maintained throughout the entire building process!

• Organizing

Organizing the building process is another responsibility of your project manager. They coordinate every aspect of construction, from creating custom home designs to scheduling work and securing necessary materials. 

An organized project manager ensures that everything runs as planned, smoothing any bumps or unforeseen challenges in your way while maintaining clear communication among all parties involved!

• Leading

Managers are natural leaders, and their project management style is built around their skillset. They lead by delegating roles that distribute responsibilities to different team members, ensuring every aspect of the construction process has a specialist’s guidance.

As they drive their teams forward, project managers inspire productivity and collaboration to keep driving toward an exceptional outcome that exceeds your expectations!

• Communicating

A good relationship between the project manager and the client is necessary for a smooth construction process. Regular communication ensures all parties engaged in the building work remain on the same page regarding your vision throughout every step of your custom home building experience.

So when you hire an experienced project manager, they will be working with architects, engineers, designers, and subcontractors to ensure appropriate coordination amongst them all. It will make sure everything runs seamlessly from start to finish!

• Monitoring

Monitoring the progress of a construction project is an important part of your project manager’s role. They track things like completion time, resource utilization, and quality control to ensure your custom home or remodeling work meets all building codes.

Project or construction managers complete frequent checks throughout every phase, down to completion. Thus, they help prevent delays in meeting deadlines and identify areas requiring improvement as early as possible!

• Controlling

Controlling costs, timelines, and quality are vital responsibilities that your project manager handles. They continuously monitor the construction progress and inspect the work to ensure it meets industry standards at each phase of the process. 

Being proactive instead of reactive is important to achieving a successful outcome in any building or remodeling project!

What are the similarities between general contractors and project managers?

General contractors and project managers are both key parties in the construction process, meaning they have several similarities despite having different roles.

Firstly, both types of construction professionals manage their own teams of skilled workers. Whether it’s carpenters or electricians, general contractors and project managers will ensure that everyone knows what they’re expected to do on-site to complete the desired outcome. 

Secondly, each role is responsible for ensuring that a building meets specific regulations and safety codes during every phase of a potential home building or renovation. Keeping the project according to local laws assures property value creation through proper permitting measures. 

Thirdly – no matter who takes care of you, whether it be a general contractor or a construction manager, remember one thing—both professionals will estimate costs prior, which serves as an effective budget control technique. This balances investment returns effectively. Now let’s get to some specific knowledge!

Here are other similarities:

– Both work closely with clients throughout all phases (initial phase through completion)

– They often utilize outside sources when necessary, i.e., subcontractors 

– Follow clear systematic agendas related to projects

– Critical decisions are relayed ethically so they maintain transparency and clarity between the parties.

What are the differences between general contractors and project managers?

You won’t find many differences between a project manager and a general contractor but it won’t hurt to learn those!

General contractors typically oversee the entire construction process, from planning to execution. They take care of all aspects of the project so that you don’t have to worry about it. 

Construction managers usually get involved within a particular range or phase in your building procedure, giving their expertise focused on one aspect chiefly.

Project managers frequently work for builders themselves and deliver professional advisories related to projects, such as timelines, decisions with material usage requirements, or budget optimization.

While general contractors are hired directly by homeowners seeking new construction services, hiring a project manager is less common than when necessary for large commercial projects requiring expanded asset engineering! 

The most significant difference between these two experts comes down really on how much they’re involved in every step of your project. 

Pros and Cons of hiring a general contractor

When you hire a general contractor for your construction project, they will act as the overall manager of the project. They’ll provide an easier approach to navigating through each phase of the building process. Doing so takes some pressure off you and lessens any confusion that may occur.

However, remember that it will be an expensive investment to have them manage every little detail. The hiring costs keep going up with high demand in this sector, potentially pushing up prices more than average.

Pros and Cons of hiring a project manager

If you hire a project manager, they will work closely with you as the homeowner to ensure that every part of the construction process is going according to your desired plan. And also works collaboratively with architects.

Remember that engaging or employing a project manager can be costly and increase expenses even more than hiring a general contractor. However, the benefits of this specialist involve their ability to maintain an efficient workflow by taking control of or managing all aspects of your home building. At the same time, they will provide support at every (phase) step along the way.

General Contractor vs. Project Manager: Which Is Right for Your Construction Project?

Now that we’ve established the roles of project manager and general contractor throughout each phase of a construction project, let’s determine which one is right for you.

At Brewer Built LLC, we specialize in new decks and custom home builds. As licensed general contractors in Minnetonka and the surrounding areas, we have the necessary experience to manage every aspect of your entire construction process from start to finish – ensuring every facet, and managing third parties involved in bringing it all together precisely as per your requirements.

Hiring us as your general contractor means you’ll have peace of mind knowing that everything will be taken care of without missing any detail throughout every step. And if there’s ever an issue during or after completion (which rarely happens, thanks to our expertise!), our responsibility persists no matter when it arises!

So don’t hesitate! Trust us with your next construction project now!