Inept about construction matters. Help!

[Paul Winka]

Long time lurker, first-time poster here.

While growing up, my dad was an office man, not a handyman. As a result, I am now grown up and know almost nothing about construction. I am a bilking contractor's dream come true. But I don’t want to learn about construction this so that I can do the work to save money. I just want to know enough to not be “taken for a ride” with any contractors I do business with. As it stands now, if doing a walk-through with a GC in a property and he is telling me what work needs to be done, I would just be nodding my head to what he says in ignorance. Oh, it makes me cringe, because I have been that situation before.

So, how would you educate yourself on construction?

Habitat for Humanity?

Take a shop class or some other hands-on at a community college?

Take the same classes as a home inspector, or even get certified as one?

Pay a respected general contractor a high enough fee to show you the ropes or beg him to be his apprentice?

What book suggestions do you have?

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.

[Karen Margrave]

@Paul Winka You're not going to be able to learn enough to know if a contractor is padding a bid or not by reading a few books. It would be a total waste of your time to work for a contractor, home inspector or anyone else to learn the trade, unless you intend on getting into that profession. 

Honestly, do you really think there's some big plot by licensed contractors to go lie cheat and steal from every person they come into contact with? Stop believing all the stories and hype about contractors, as most are hard working, honest people, that do their best to get the job done, give good customer service and set themselves up for repeat business. 

Try this: 

• Get bids from 3-4 LICENSED contractors
• Verify their licenses (Most states have this info online, as well as showing bond)
• Call references
• Look at work they've done in the past (many have it online) 
• Control the flow of money. (You don't have to nickle and dime it, but no big draws)
• Be involved in your job, make sure things are done when it's supposed to be
• HAVE A CONTRACT WITH ALL DETAILS IN WRITING, and have someone that understands the business look it over.

NOTE: MOST of the problems with contractors are caused by people being too lazy to do the things I've listed. This will not totally eliminate risk, but it will mitigate it. 

Of course, nobody was ever hurt by taking some basic classes in repairs, remodeling, accounting, etc. But, hire professionals, and let them do their job. 

Even though we are licensed GC and have the ability to do anything on a job, we would rather hire someone that specializes in certain things; and can do them better than we can or it's more cost effective to do it, on our jobs. (finish carpentry, etc.)