The selection of a building contractor is, perhaps next to the architect, the most important decision you will make. If you already know an established building contractor that does good work and that you fully trust this is definitely your best choice. You are particularly lucky if this person and you share the same aesthetic feel for architecture.

If you do not know such a person, ask for recommendations from friends and others you respect who have had a good experience with a building contractor. Over the past twenty-five years of practicing architecture I have come to know a number of building contractors who I would highly recommend for specific projects. So I would also be a good source for recommendations. Interview four or five building contractors (or even more) and ask for a list of references. It would be a good idea for me to also interview the contractor if I am not acquainted with him (or possibly her). It is best that this interview process occur early in the design stages of the project, or even before. The good contractors are often booked up for a while, even in a slow building construction period.

Creating a detailed construction cost analysis can take a general contractor two to three weeks of work. All the subcontractors and materials suppliers must be contacted and shown a set of the drawings. The general contractor may have certain subs that he is used to working with and whom he knows will work for a fair price. And for other trades he will ask for competitive bids. His cost breakdown will cover his overhead and profit figures as well. If you are able to make light fixture, plumbing fixture, and finish material selections at the construction drawing stage of the project the cost analysis will be more accurate and the subcontractors will have the opportunity to perhaps get better prices.

Established small residential building contractors that take one or two jobs at a time will usually not be interested in a competitive bid situation. The larger building contractor firms will have an estimator or two in the office and are structured to participate in competitive bids. It is possible you will get a lower price from a competitive bid, but you may not get the results you were hoping for, particularly if you do not have a thorough set of specifications for the project. And you may not be sure who the project contractor will be. So I generally recommend choosing a general contractor you trust and feel will do a great job, and work out an owner-contractor agreement that you both feel comfortable with. It might be helpful for me to facilitate this process.

My involvement during the construction phase will vary a lot depending on the relationship you have established with your building contractor and whether you feel you want help from me fine-tuning the design. I will definitely want to make site visits at critical times during the construction process to see that the construction is conforming to the drawings. I can also take on a more active role during the construction process, making periodic inspections, approving change orders, and being in charge of the final "punch list" process. However this kind of involvement by the architect is the exception rather than the rule for residential projects.