How to Choose a General Contractor in the Bay Area

The contractor you hire matters more than any material you pick. A great one makes a remodel feel manageable; the wrong one turns it into the horror story everyone's heard. Here's how to tell the difference before you sign anything.

What to look for

• A real license and insurance — a California contractor's license (you can look it up on the CSLB site) and current liability and workers' comp coverage.
• A track record you can check — real reviews on Google and Yelp, and past work you can actually see.
• Their own crew, or clarity on who does the work — you want to know who's in your home, not a rotating cast of subcontractors.
• An itemized proposal — clear scope and line items, so you can see what you're paying for and compare fairly.
• Straight communication — someone who tells you the hard things early, not just what you want to hear.

Red flags to walk away from

• A price that's far below everyone else's — it usually means something's missing from the scope, and you'll pay for it later.
• Pressure to decide today, or a 'discount if you sign tonight.' Real remodels take months; there's no reason to rush.
• Vague, one-line quotes with no breakdown.
• No license number, or reluctance to share it.
• Large cash deposits up front before any work.

Questions worth asking

• Who will actually be doing the work, and who's my point of contact?
• How do you handle surprises once walls are open?
• Can I see a recent project like mine, and talk to that homeowner?
• What does your proposal include — and what's not in it?

How we measure up

For what it's worth, this is exactly how we run Genesis: licensed (CA #1052900) and insured, 5-star rated on Google and Yelp, 12+ years and 500+ projects, our own crew, itemized proposals, and straight talk — even when it's not what you were hoping to hear. Whether or not you hire us, use this list on everyone you talk to.

Want a straight, no-pressure conversation about your project? Book a free consultation. Call (800) 950-3984 or reach us through our contact page.