What does a general contractor do?

<div>General contractors are the ones that coordinate home construction projects. They are in charge of the day-to-day oversight of the subcontractors to ensure that the project is completed on time and to resolve problems as they arise. General contractors:<ul><li>Complete pre-construction planning, both with the customer and crew</li><li>Provide realistic cost estimates</li><li>Develop construction timelines</li><li>Ensure deadlines are met</li><li>Acquire permits as needed</li><li>Purchase supplies and materials</li></ul></div>

What questions should I ask a general contractor?

<div>Before hiring a general contractor for your home project, it’s a great idea to write down a list of questions to discuss with each prospect. Some example questions to get you started include:<ul><li>Which types of insurance do you carry?</li><li>Can you provide a list of references?</li><li>What is the expected timeline for this project?</li><li>How will my project be supervised?</li><li>Will you hire subcontractors for the job?</li><li>What is the best way to communicate changes?</li><li>Will you obtain all of the required building permits?</li></ul></div>

Should general contractors be certified or licensed?

<div>While city and state laws vary on general contractor licensing requirements, hiring an unlicensed general contractor could lead to poor quality work, costly future expenses, and potential code violations. Be sure to check our <a href="https://www.angi.com/angi-license-check.htm">state licensing tool</a> to review the local general contractor guidelines for your area.As you browse our pro listings, take note of the “Angi Approved” badge. Angi Approved businesses meet our standards for certification which include: <ul><li>The owner, principal, or relevant manager passed a criminal background check</li><li>Required to have applicable state and local licenses</li><li>Maintain an average star rating of 3.0 or better on our network, if they have at least one review</li><li>Paying to advertise their services</li><li>Meeting any other eligibility criteria required by Angi</li></ul>Keep in mind licensing is different from certifications. A license is a legal requirement to operate a business, while certifications are voluntary.</div>

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Q: How much do general contractors typically charge?

<div>Generally, general contractors charge between $50 and $150 hourly, though not every contractor charges by the hour. If charging based on the project, you can expect a markup of 10% to 20% of the construction cost. You can expect to pay between $300 and $500 daily if charged by the day. </div>

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Verified Reviews for Contractor Service pros in Long Beach, CA

*The Angi rating for Contractor Service companies in Long Beach, CA is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Contractor Service needs.

*The HomeAdvisor rating for Contractor Service companies in Long Beach, CA is a rating based on verified reviews from our community of homeowners who have used these pros to meet their Contractor Service needs.

Last update on August 10, 2025

Reviewed in July 2019
It went excellent. Grateful. He showed up in time always, being very punctual. Besides doing a good job he is very caring, looking at the essence of the problems to fix it. He won't leave an unfinished job. Variety of areas...
Eddy's Handyman Service
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Reviewed in February 2014
We had a huge pest problem in our home. Lots of small openings that had to be sealed. They came in, helped trap rodents safely, seal any entry points, and came back for multiple follow up visits. They were flexible with my needs and even went the extra mile to help out with some repairs that...
Surf City Termite & Pest Control
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Reviewed in September 2013
They finished remodeling a bathroom that was started by another contractor. Some costs are a little expensive - like they charge me $50 to rehang a door. Also the cost to move a light a few was probably a lot more than most other contractors would have charged me. I would compare prices as much...
CMRS Construction
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Reviewed in August 2012
I chose Tommy Cole, Cal Spec Builders, as my general contractor and I am very glad I did. Tommy and his crew are exactly what you would want in workers that you are going to be dealing with for several months. They are all punctual, efficient, professional, talented, and very courteous. They...
Cal Spec Builders
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Reviewed in August 2012
Horribly when Mr. Dorman first came in he had his guys in fast to start the work. Getting the piping in quick then things slowed down. The project was originally set up to be done with in 6 weeks. After the piping was put in and had the newly added on handicap bathroom off the master bedroom....
Island Construction
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Reviewed in February 2012
First initial appointment went great. Ruben came on time and was very professional. We went over samples of carpet and tile and he only had a few selections. I asked why, he said that's all they had. Ok, I asked if they did kitchen countertops, I wanted laminate, he said know one has ordered...
EMPOWER FLOORING
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Reviewed in January 2009
The work was generally finished, although there were details left unfinished and a promise was made to return and polish things and that did not happen. The owner used a "site manager" arrangement and the site manager did not check the work. He told me that he would fix anything that I told him...
AVIV CONSTRUCTION & DESIGN INC
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Reviewed in February 2007
I could not be more pleased. Chan and the crew showed up on time everyday and are extremely hardworking. They were very neat, polite and accommodating. I know the job was more work than they had anticipated, but they never complained or cut any corners on the quality to save time. They went...
Ocean Painting
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