Every big project hits the same fork in the road: do you hire one general contractor to run everything, or hire the plumber, the electrician and the tile setter yourself? Both can work. The right answer depends on the size of the job, how many trades are involved, permits, and how much of your own time you want to spend managing. This guide explains what a general contractor does, when you need one, when you can hire the trades directly, and how to compare both options before you sign.
What a general contractor actually does
- Plans the schedule so each trade arrives in the right order.
- Hires and coordinates the trades: framers, plumbers, electricians, drywall, tile, painters.
- Orders materials and keeps deliveries on time.
- Pulls permits and arranges inspections.
- Is your one point of contact, and is responsible for the finished job.
General contractor or the trades yourself: side by side
| One general contractor | Hire the trades yourself | |
|---|---|---|
| Your time | One call, regular updates | Many calls, you schedule everyone |
| Scheduling | The GC keeps trades in order | You manage the order and the delays |
| Permits and inspections | Usually handled by the GC | Often on you |
| When something goes wrong | One person is responsible | You sort out who fixes what |
| Best for | Big, multi-trade, permit-heavy projects | Single-trade or simple projects |
When you need a general contractor
- Whole house remodels and gut renovations
- Room additions, second stories and garage conversions
- Moving walls, structural work or foundation work
- Projects with three or more trades that depend on each other
- Commercial build-outs and work with strict codes or inspections
When you can hire the trades directly
- One-trade jobs: a new water heater, painting, a tile floor, a fence
- Small projects where the order of work is simple
- When you have time to schedule, meet and check the work yourself
The hidden job of managing it yourself
Hiring trades directly can work well, but you take on the role of the general contractor. If the plumber is late, the drywall crew waits. If an inspection fails, you arrange the fix and the re-inspection. Materials need to be on site at the right time. Make sure you have the time and patience before you choose this path for a big project.
A real example: one kitchen, seven trades
Even one "simple" kitchen remodel can involve many trades, and they have to arrive in the right order:
- Demolition takes out the old cabinets, counters and flooring.
- Plumber moves supply lines and drains while the walls are open.
- Electrician adds circuits for appliances and lighting.
- Inspection checks the rough plumbing and electrical before walls close.
- Drywall closes and finishes the walls, then the painter follows.
- Cabinet installer sets cabinets, then counters are measured and installed.
- Tile setter does the backsplash, then plumber and electrician come back to finish.
If any one of them is a few days late, everyone after them moves too. A general contractor keeps that line moving. If you manage it yourself, you are the one making those calls.
The middle path: a GC for the core, trades for the rest
Many homeowners do both. A general contractor runs the part of the job with structure, permits and many trades, like the kitchen and bathrooms. Then the homeowner hires single trades directly for simpler work before or after, like interior painting, a new fence or landscaping. Just make sure the timing is clear so nobody arrives while the main crew still needs the space.
Signs your project needs one person in charge
- Walls are moving, or anything structural is changing
- Your city requires permits and several inspections
- Three or more trades depend on each other's work
- You work full time and cannot be on site to meet crews
- The house must be livable again by a firm date
If you checked two or more, getting bids from general contractors is a smart first step. You can still compare them with trade bids before you decide.
How to compare a GC bid with trade bids
Write one clear scope and share it with everyone. A general contractor's bid should cover the whole project, including management, permits and scheduling. Trade bids cover their own part. To compare fairly, add up the trade bids and remember the items no trade will cover on its own: scheduling, permits, cleanup between trades and the final punch list.
Questions to ask either way
- What exactly is included in your bid, and what is not?
- Who will be on site, and how will we communicate?
- Who pulls the permits and schedules the inspections?
- How are changes handled and priced?
- Do you carry insurance and any license my city or state requires? Ask for proof and check it.
See both options on BidHandyman
Post your project once. General contractors and trade pros approved by BidHandyman can both bid, so you can compare one-contractor bids with trade-by-trade bids side by side, message them with questions, and choose how your project gets built, with no obligation. Post your project, or read about a whole house remodel and protecting yourself when hiring a contractor.