Hello! We are buying a house built in 1955 which we would like to update/remodel. Some of the work will likely include replacing galvanized plumbing, rewiring the electrical, converting the garage into a living space, and converting some existing space into a master bath. We are thinking it makes sense to hire a general contractor to help coordinate the project, though we would like to help offset the cost by offering some of our own labor for the lower-skilled parts (e.g. painting, fixtures).

Does anyone have any general advice or have general contractors they can recommend? Here are some of our ideals:

• able to utilize space efficiently (we're looking at a ~1,000 sq ft house)
• has a reliable group of subcontractors
• considers utilitarian choices in addition to aesthetic (e.g. water-resistant flooring for kitchen, stain-resistant countertops, etc.)
• can be creative with budgets within reason (we're not looking to low-ball anybody, but if the original design requires some crazy pipework that could be avoided by moving something 2 feet, we'd like to know it's an option)
• good communication and sticks reasonably close to budgets and timelines assuming no major surprises

tl;dr: Any recommendations for general contractors for updating & remodeling an old house?