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A licensed builder in BC can act as a general contractor or builder in residential or commercial buildings. A large part of the job of a general contractor is to organize all of the elements required to complete a project then to supervise all progress.
British Columbia had enjoyed consistently strong demand for housing for decades. Given highly favourable industry dynamics in Vancouver, many people have built an impressive and financially rewarding career as a builder or general contractor.
Want to learn more? Read our career guide below!
General contractors offer oversight of work at building sites, providing guidance for the entire construction process from the initial design phases through the completed project. Job offers in this lucrative field come from several different sources. Many general contractors enjoy the benefits of self-employment as owners of their own firms. However, this line of work is in high demand with offers also coming for regular employment from both individual property owners and development companies.
The job of a general contractor is both exciting and challenging. Responsible for overseeing all aspects of a building project, the general contractor’s work begins with the design process. A large part of the job of a general contractor is to organize all of the elements required to complete a project then to supervise all progress.
General contractors are trained to provide many different services to their valued clients. These include:
Ongoing employment is obtained through regular bidding on prospective projects. This is a process that requires careful assessment of all forecasted costs then negotiating to procure the job at the right price point to ensure a profit. Among the factors general contractors must consider when formulating a viable quote include the cost of materials, labour expenses, and safety precautions which must be implemented.
Each component of the construction process involves many different steps with different employees providing each of the necessary services. The general contractor’s role is to carefully supervise each phase of the process to ensure things are completed on time and within budget. This also involves sorting out any problems that arise along the way. With so many moving parts to track on a daily basis, excellent communication skills are an absolute must for the general contractor.
With salaries ranging from $86,000 per year to upwards of $180,000 (source: indeed.ca), it is easy to see that choosing a career as a general contractor is an excellent means to help British Columbia job seekers realize their goals of a consistent income in a field that is stable and in demand.
Many general contractors or builders become owners of large construction businesses. There are many example of successful construction companies or subcontractors that earn millions of dollars of profits per year.
The builders broker licensing course is only available on-line without lectures. It is difficult to understand all of the concepts and equations without the proper help. Joining the Quick Pass Master Tutorial Program specially designed for the builders broker course will help you save time and pass the exam more easily.
Below is a summary of our full article on “Why You Should Consider Building a Career as a General Contractor?”. To read the full article, please click here.
We’ve heard a lot of buzz about the housing markets in the past 5 years. One of the biggest beneficiaries of strong housing demand is the construction industry. What does the average day in the life of a licensed home builder or general contractor look like?
Mornings start very early for those employed as licensed home builders or general contractors. Up long before the sun, the general contractor is already hard at working planning the sequence of events which must occur in the day ahead.
The commute to the morning office often takes place before the sun comes up. Though some general contractors do make use of the train system to commute to a downtown Vancouver office, most simply take their own transportation since their truck is a workhorse that is needed throughout their workday.
Upon arrival at the office, there are many details for the general contractor to oversee, approve, and finalize.
When a general contractor visits a site, their focus is on three very important components of every building project. These are:
These three principles remain at the forefront of the general contractor’s mind as they assess and inspect each ongoing project and discuss the work with their subcontractors.
Though lunchtime is meant to fuel the body for further work, the general contractor or licensed home builder likes to make each moment count by enjoying a tasty meal and keeping current on developments at each of their job sites.
During their lunch break, general contractors make phone calls to suppliers to order needed equipment or materials. Emails are exchanged with support staff at the home office with requests for details to be organized to help the project to continue to proceed smoothly. Any requests for information or action items requiring follow up may be addressed during this time as well.
Since all building projects will come to an end, the general contractor’s afternoons are often filled with meetings where they will gather the requisite information to bid on upcoming projects. These meetings typically take place with engineers and architects who outline all of the specifications for the proposed build. The general contractor carefully notes each detail for a future time when they will apply their hand to crafting their bid for the job. Here is yet another area where attention to detail is a very important aspect of the general contractor’s role.
Following these meetings, the general contractor will need to formulate their bid. It is important that the general contractor or licensed home builder come to these project bids with a well-crafted proposal which hits the right earmarks of an attractive but realistic price point for the potential client while still maintaining a profit for their company.
Following any bid meetings, the general contractor can then return to their home office to assess the day’s events, meet with office staff, and formulate an action plan for the next day. This time can include follow up email or phone correspondence to organize critical details for their projects or research for future bids. Other tasks the general contractor must address include:
Since little work can be done on a job site after dark, the general contractor’s formal work day typically can end when the sun goes down. However, many involved in the trade opt to take paper and administration work home with them, working on proposals and crafting lists of action items for the next day.
If you are looking for both long-term stability and upside potential when selecting a career, you may want to seriously consider working as a general contractor. Here’s why:
Basically, if you are driven, dedicated, and focused, you are bound to succeed as a general contractor!
Many general contractors are self-employed, giving them the flexibility to place bids with a wide variety of different organizations. This provides a greater source of income as well as job security since the contractor’s services remain in high demand from diverse sources.
Among the organizations general contractors often work for are:
If you are looking for both long-term stability and upside potential when selecting a career, you may want to seriously consider working as a general contractor. Here’s why:
Basically, if you are driven, dedicated, and focused, you are bound to succeed as a general contractor!
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