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Choosing a General Contractor

The general contractor will work closely with the architect and designer and will be responsible for hiring all subcontractors.

Here are some questions to ask:

• How long has the contractor been in business? (Look for a well-established business with a good track record and no legal complaints against it.)

• Is the contractor licensed and registered with the state? (Each state and municipality has different licensing standards. Find out what they are and if the contractor has a current license and registration.)

• How many high-performance school projects has the contractor worked on?

• Will the contractor be using subcontractors? If so, on which parts of the project? Do the subcontractors have current licensing and insurance coverage?

• What types of insurance coverage does the contractor have? (They should have personal liability, workers' compensation and property damage coverage.)

• Does the contractor have a good working relationship with an architect who designs high-performance schools?

• Can the contractor provide a list of references?