Thinking about transforming your unused basement into a cozy family room or building an outdoor deck where you can unwind with a good book and a refreshing drink? While these projects can add significant value and enjoyment to your home, hiring a general contractor to bring your vision to life can feel overwhelming at first.
You may find yourself asking several important questions:
- What is a general contractor?
- What does a general contractor do?
- And most importantly, how much does it cost to hire a general contractor in New Hampshire?
This guide answers those questions and more. Below, we’ll explain what a general contractor is, outline their key responsibilities, break down typical costs and fee structures, and discuss the factors that influence pricing.
We’ll also share practical tips for saving money when hiring a contractor and highlight the key considerations homeowners should keep in mind to make a confident, informed decision.
What Is a General Contractor?
A general contractor is an individual or company that specializes in professional construction work. They have all the technical skills to offer a broad selection of services to complete construction projects.
General contractors can have in-house teams of workers that start with five employees, all the way to 20 or 30. Or, for projects that require special skill sets, a GC can hire subcontractors to handle specific phases of a construction project, such as:
- MEP (Mechanical, Electrical, Plumbing) professionals
- Landscaping specialists
- Structure and foundation workers
- Cabinet installers
- Roofers and siders
- Excavation crews
- Drywall hangers, painters, baseboard installers, etc.
- HVAC system professionals
Another important detail about GCs is that they act as the link between subcontractors and the project owners (as well as architects, designers, and engineers).
In this regard, a general contractor can be considered a project manager, running communication between all involved parties.
What Does a General Contractor Do?
Since construction projects are highly varied, with plenty of details and considerations that go into each phase, a GC’s responsibilities and services can be too many to count.
To keep you in the loop, here’s a breakdown of what a general contractor’s duties usually involve:
- Bidding on projects
- Hiring and supervising subcontractors
- Complying with contracts, general requirements, and general conditions
- Monitoring construction sites and the quality of work done in them
- Managing all construction phases
- Obtaining permits
- Tracking project progress and ensuring it sticks to the agreed-upon timeline
- Conducting periodic meetings with clients and stakeholders and providing progress reports
- Making sure projects align with building codes and design standards
General Contractor Services
What can you expect from a general contractor in terms of services?
- Construction projects: Building homes, facilities, commercial buildings, and offices, or taking up landscaping tasks and driveway repairs
- Renovations: Second-story additions, home extensions, structural changes, interior remodeling, or exterior restorations
- Extensive carpentry jobs: Floor-to-ceiling shelves or cabinetry, decks and pergolas, etc.
- Plumbing projects: Fixing a sewer line or installing a bathroom’s or kitchen’s plumbing system
- Electrical and lighting jobs: Supply intake alterations, designing and implementing a home’s lighting and electrical systems, electrical extensions, and more
- Drywall work: Putting up and finishing drop ceilings and wall partitions
- Large-scale paint jobs: Painting walls and ceilings of interiors and exteriors of homes, commercial spaces, industrial locations, or offices
- HVAC installations: Load calculation, old system removal, installing indoor and outdoor units, and testing results
- Decorative services: Decorative plaster, wall frames, 3D panels, stair handrails, and similar
Average General Contractor Fee in NH
Of course, general contractor fees in New Hampshire will vary according to project scope as well as some other factors we’ll discuss below.
However, on average, you can expect a general contractor in Campton to charge homeowners $175–$300 per square foot. This cost involves overhead and profit fees.
Compared to GC fees in other states, NH rates sit right in the middle (great news for homeowners!). Here’s a comparison table for reference:
|
State |
Average general contractor fee |
|
Arkansas |
$150–$260 |
|
Texas |
$150–$270 |
|
New Hampshire |
$175–$300 |
|
New Jersey |
$215–$370 |
|
California |
$215–$430 |
4 Key Factors That Affect General Contractor Costs
Before hiring a general contractor, you must understand the multiple factors that influence the overall pricing. These considerations are the site’s location, the project’s scope of work (complexity), the project’s size, and the GC’s experience.
1. Location
Regional economic conditions will highly impact the expenses necessary to complete the project. The costs needed to acquire permits, materials, and workforce all vary according to the location.
For instance, work done in a middle-class neighborhood costs much less than in an upscale part of town.
2. Work Scope and Complexity
Expect to pay higher fees if your construction project features intricate designs that require a specific skillset.
This also applies to challenging or hazardous jobs: roofing, demolition, high-risk electrical projects, and high-elevation steel work.
3. Project Size
Larger projects are subject to economies of scale, so they tend to have reduced percentage fees.
Still, when thinking about the overall cost, you can’t compare the price of building an entire floor to merely adding an extra room.
4. Contractor’s Experience
The more experience a GC has, the more they’ll charge you for their services, which makes perfect sense. You’ll be paying for top-quality, error-free work, specialized technical and market knowledge, and strict adherence to deadlines.
How General Contractors Charge?
Depending on the project requirements and scale, or the general contracting company’s policies, the pricing structure may differ. They could charge you a percentage of the total project cost, using an hourly rate, or through fixed-price contracts.
Percentage of Total Project Cost (Most Common)
Usually, general contractors in Campton, NH, determine their fees by percentages. In this region, expect to pay 10%–20% for overhead and another 10%–20% for profit. The total percentage is 20%–40% of all project costs.
Hourly Rates
Alternatively, you could be charged an hourly rate of $60–$150. The exact rate depends on factors like project size, company size, and whether any specialized skills are needed.
The company’s market position and years of experience can influence the hourly rates, too.
Fixed-price Contracts
Also known as a lump-sum agreement, this pricing model sets a fixed price for a precisely outlined scope of work. While this structure protects homeowners from material price changes and sets defined budget expectations, it doesn’t offer much flexibility.
Cost Breakdown by Project Type: Eye-opening Examples
Still not sure how much it’ll cost to hire a general contractor for your home improvement project in New Hampshire? The table below includes a cost breakdown by project type to make the picture clearer.
|
Project type |
Project cost |
General contracting fee |
|
Home construction |
$180,000–$450,000 |
$18,000–$90,000 |
|
Adding a new room |
$23,000–$75,000 |
$2,300–$15,000 |
|
Bathroom remodel |
$2,500–$15,000 |
$250–$3,000 |
|
Deck or porch construction |
$1,500–$24,000 |
$150–$2,400 |
If the GC charges by hourly rates:
|
Project size |
Expected hourly rate |
|
Small |
$60–$100 per hour |
|
Medium |
$100–$150 per hour |
|
Large |
Over $150 per hour |
As for fixed-price contracts, it’s impossible to get an estimate because each project has specific requirements that GCs carefully consider before determining the price.
What’s Included in a General Contractor’s Fee
You need to know what you’re paying for when using the services of a general contractor in Campton:
- Materials and labor (hiring and managing subcontractors)
- Overhead costs, as well as full project supervision and management
- Profit
- Acquiring local permits and insurance
- Site logistics
- Contingency (an amount preserved for delays or unexpected repairs)
How to Save Money When Hiring a General Contractor
Follow these helpful tips to stay within your budget’s limits when hiring a general contracting company.
Tip 1: Talk Extensively About Your Expectations
Before writing your contract, make sure you talk openly to your general contractor about what you need in terms of materials, quality, and other project details. Send them pictures of what you need done and ensure they have a full understanding of your requirements.
Open communication minimizes misunderstandings that may result in redoing certain tasks. If that happens, you might have to pay extra for repairs or replacements if the material or color selections aren’t correct.
To keep that from happening, always finalize any blueprints or 3D designs before meeting up with your contractor. Otherwise, any changes you’ll make in later stages will be costly.
Tip 2: Focus on Inspections
Inspections are crucial for structural projects, so always ask for proof of inspection from your contractor. You can even hire a third party to do the required inspections. Sure, it’ll cost you a bit more initially, but it might save thousands in the future.
Tip 3: Avoid Nitpicking When the Work Isn’t Done Yet
The best piece of advice is to let contractors do their job and not get in the way when the project is still a work in progress. Your intervention can delay them, and with delays come extra costs that you’re better off avoiding.
Trust the process!
Tip 4: Write Everything Into the Contract
Don’t hesitate to write the tiniest, most boring project details into the contract to protect both your interests and the GC’s. Outline the scope of work, payment structure, schedule, etc.
Even if you require additional work not included in the first contract, your agreement should be written, too, to avoid unexpected costs later on.
Tip 5: Consider Purchasing Your Own Materials
Since contractors take percentages on the materials they buy, you can save money by purchasing your own paint, wall finishes, light fixtures, or flooring tiles.
You may order them in bulk to reduce costs.
How to Choose the Right General Contractor
Consider these points carefully to help you form an opinion on a general contracting company:
- Get recommendations from professionals (architects or designers), supply store managers, or even online.
- Research a general contractor’s local track record, years of expertise, specialties, and client testimonials and reviews.
- Verify their insurance and licenses.
- Compare bids from different companies to see which works best for your needs.
- Ensure the company’s services and line of work align with your project’s requirements.
- Take your time to browse the GC’s work gallery.
- Prioritize companies that communicate openly and promptly with you.
FAQs
How Much Does a General Contractor Charge Per Hour?
Most general contractors in New Hampshire charge an hourly rate between $60 and $100, depending on project complexity, location, and other factors.
Simple, low-cost projects will likely be charged at $60 or $70 per hour, while a mid-sized construction job may cost you $100 to $150. For large-scale, multi-stage work, a GC may charge an hourly rate of over $150.
How Much Does a GC Charge to Build a House?
A general contractor’s fee is based on their pricing structure.
Say that a house requires $300K to build; this translates to a fee of $30K to $60K (percentage of 10% to 20%). If it’s an hourly rate, it could be $50 to $150 per hour, depending on the house’s size, features, room number, etc.
The same considerations will be taken into account if your contractor charges a flat fee. For a $300K house, a fixed fee could reach up to $45K.
In Conclusion: Hiring a General Contractor
How much does it cost to hire a general contractor?
In summary, general contractors in NH may charge you $175–$300 per square foot. The cost still varies according to location, GC experience, project size, and work complexity.
Before hiring a general contractor, remember to learn about their pricing structure (percentage of total costs, fixed-price contract, or an hourly rate). Also, make sure you research a GC’s local track record, qualifications, and other crucial factors to pick the right company for your needs.
For specialized construction services in Campton, NH, contact THS (Tuck Home Services) today. Whether you’re planning a home renovation, landscaping, or an extension, the THS team possesses the skills and experience to deliver top-notch results!