Did you know that Japanese Homes are considered worthless after 15 years!!? And that houses in Japan only last 30 years on average? In the US and Canada homes last an average of 55 years and in the UK and France an average of 77 years.

Renovations and Remodels, are a intimidating unto themselves – let alone seeking out the right people for the job!

If your project requires a specific kind of work, like installing a hot tub or building a deck, you’ll probably need a contractor who specializes in the area, like a plumber or carpenter. But if you’re planning a more extensive project, such as remodelling your kitchen or building a second-story addition, hiring a general contractor is probably a better choice.

General Contracting Services
General contractors are responsible for managing all aspects of your project, including hiring and supervising subcontractors, getting building permits, ordering supplies, and scheduling inspections. These contractors oversee all the subcontractors, such as plumbers, carpenters, and painters, to ensure that the job is done efficiently and to your satisfaction. They will act as your main contact throughout the project, and should be able to both explain any step of the work you need to know about as well as communicate your specific ideas for the project to the appropriate service provider.

Benefits of Hiring a General Contractor
Hiring a general contractor, makes life simpler and more efficient for you, and speeding up completion. The hassle of having half a dozen contractors in your home is a bad enough, but without a guiding force, it can quickly become a nightmare. A project that should take only 4 weeks might end up taking 4 months simply from scheduling and re-scheduling various subcontractors.

Time is money, but money is also money. Many subcontractors will charge a higher rate or charge per hour when they have to coordinate their work on a large project directly through the homeowner. Moreover, general contracting services also usually include access to products bought in bulk that individual homeowners might have to purchase at a higher price. This will get you a better deal on materials, and will give your job the customized look you desire.
The positive net effect can often more than cover the general contracting service fees.

Marcraft Homes is a luxury custom home builder, building and renovating quality residential homes in Metro Vancouver since 2003. Are you thinking of a major home renovation in Metro Vancouver? Call or email Erynn today and ask for the Marcraft Welcome Kit, our free information gathering tool you can use and share with the Marcraft team to help plan and organize your next home renovation project.

While not, all of these are exactly “new”, we are finding more and more unique ways of incorporating them into our construction projects, today we are going to be focusing on “Green Materials” and how they can make you home more sustainable and energy efficient!

We have all heard the saying – “..buy land…because they are not making any more of it!”. Well, if you are wanting to build a home, exactly how you want it – there are somethings you should know before purchasing your land parcel.