How to Find a Home Improvement Subcontractor? 

You should start the search for a reliable home improvement contractor by soliciting recommendations from those you trust or people having recent experience with some known roofing contractors. Searching online for reliable local contractors is another option. 

You can also try to find people who have worked on similar projects. While larger building firms employ others, most contractors work alone or in small teams. As long as they conform to the necessary standards, both should be considered.

Why Do You Need a Subcontractor? 

Most general contractors specialize in particular projects, such as woodworking or house painting, or roofing, while others are multifaceted. Contractors are responsible for providing the necessary labor, equipment, and materials for whichever project they are hired for. There are a lot of roles that typically assimilate in the home improvement industry, and a contractor strives to find a specific subcontractor. This list includes flooring, roofing, siding,  renovation, remodeling,  painting, plumbing,  etc. 



Key Factors in the Hiring Process of a Subcontractor 

It's important to include a few standard layouts and questions in your pre-qualification or hiring process, even though they may look different from person to person and, of course, industry to industry. 

Here are some most important factors in the hiring process of a subcontractor: 

• Scalability Level & Experience 

Complete disclosure of the subcontractor's size should be a part of your hiring process. It depends heavily on the nature of the task at hand. A smaller plumbing or electrical subcontractor should be sufficient for a residential kitchen remodel, but you should look for a sub that can match your speed and scale of work if you're on the twentieth floor of a new high-rise building. You should require a portfolio as part of the qualification too. 

• Safety Records & License 

Likewise, in other industries, in the construction industry, safety is also a first and foremost preference. For this reason, you should require all prospective subcontractors to provide proof of their commitment to workplace safety. Investigate their accident and injury history by requesting OSHA forms 300A and 300, as well as verification of their electronic medical records. For instance, subcontractor licensing is mandatory in some states while optional in others. 

• Financial Reports & 1099 Form 

Many general contractors require prospective subcontractors to provide audited financial statements for the past several years. The industry experts state that this is a standard practice because it informs the GC about the company's legality, its capital, its debt-to-equity ratio, and accounts receivable and payable. In most cases, workers complete 1099 subcontractor agreements for tax purposes. 

• Surety Bonds and Insurance 

Finally, to safeguard your business, you must request the following from your subcontractor: - A letter of recommendation from the sub's bonding company - A copy of the sub's insurance certificate. Be sure that the insurance policy's coverage limits are adequate for the size of your project. 



The Safe Way 

You can start the pre-qualification procedure by organizing everything to verify that they have sufficient human and material resources to take on your project. It will help if you set up a system of daily reporting and responsibility. And then complete a W-9 and 1099 as part of the final paperwork for the deal. If you stick to the process mentioned above, finding and hiring a subcontractor will be no more a hassle. 

Keep in mind that effective communication is crucial. By setting your goals and objectives, you can maintain a positive and productive working relationship with your subcontractors across all your projects. In United Seattle, you can connect with a purpose and find all commercial trades under one roof to reduce the time and money spent on home improvement.