Hiring the right contractor will probably be the most crucial decision you make after making the initial decision to renovate your home. More important than the color of your bathroom tiles or the type of flooring you install in the kitchen, your contractor will oversee your entire renovation project, hopefully keep you on budget, manage any hired workers, and act as your professional quality control. The work of an inattentive contractor can result in a project that runs weeks beyond its deadline and thousands of dollars over budget. That would be a formula for failure!
This is why it's so important to select a reputable contractor. But how do you do it? Keep reading for some easy tips on how to hire the best home improvement contractor.
1. Come Prepared with a Plan
Before you even begin to search for a home contractor, develop a solid idea of what you want to accomplish with your home improvement project before you start. Consider, though, that a contractor is not a designer, so begin a project with your own ideas about how in the end you want the final outcome of the work to look.
Taking that initial step will make it easier for you to set a budget and for your prospective contractors to give you an accurate quote and project timeline.
2. Obtain Contractor Referrals
Ask your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors for contractor recommendations out of their own experiences - whether positive or negative. If, for example, your prospective contractor did a wonderful job on your sister's house, then chances are he'll do a great job on yours as well.
Also, don't be afraid to ask any prospective home improvement contractors for references that you can actually call. If the person you are considering for the role is a high quality professional, then there should be no problem supplying you with the names and numbers of other satisfied customers. Once you have secured those references, make the calls!
Another avenue is to type your contractor's name into an online search engine and see if any negative or positive reviews pop up in the search results. For example, "John Smith contractor references."
3. Don't be Timid about Asking Questions
When interviewing a prospective home improvement contractor, don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions, and make them the right questions.
Inquire about details of their contracting background and how it relates specifically to your project. For example, if your project includes a major overhaul of the deck and backyard, verify that they have experience managing landscaping projects.
Ask your potential renovation contractor how improvements might be made on your prospective plan and changes necessary to complete it under budget. An experienced contractor should be able to take a brief look through a plan and offer a number of practical suggestions.
When he presents you with a time estimate, always ask how that timeline was derived and what work will be completed in each phase. A knowledgeable contractor will have reasoning behind why he's pegged this particular project at 6-8 weeks.
Finally, always ask to see a portfolio of previous work. The additional work to ensure you have an experienced and reliable home improvement contractor will be well worth the effort in the end.
Hiring a competent and reliable contractor is essential to making sure that the job is done right. While it may seem as if it should be as easy as opening the yellow pages and choosing one in your area, smart homeowners know that finding a good contractor takes as much time and effort as other aspects of your remodeling job.
Remember, the person you choose to do the work for you will have complete access to your home and family for several days or even weeks, so you must be completely comfortable with having them in your home for an extended period of time. The best way to find a contractor that you can trust is to:
-Ask friends, neighbors and co-workers for referrals -Check references with people the contractor has done work for in the past -Ask salespeople at the local lumber yard or home renovation center who they recommend -Check with your local zooming and/or code enforcement office for a list of licensed contractors in your area
Once you find a few contractors that you'd like to consider using for your remodeling project, it's time to schedule an interview. The Federal Trade Commission suggests that homeowners ask the following questions to determine if a contractor is right for you and your project:
-How Long Have You Been In Business? -Are You Registered and Licensed With the State and Local Building Authorities? -How Many Projects Like Mine Have You Completed in the Past Year? -May I Contact Some of Your Former Clients? -Will You Be Hiring Any Subcontractors for This Project? -What Types of Insurance Do You Carry?
Once you've chosen your new contractor, be sure to insist that you get all the details of your project (including price and delivery estimates/completion dates), in writing before paying any deposits. A written contract is essential to ensuring that the work is done properly and on time.
Unfortunately, not every contractor is reputable, and homeowners need to be on the look-out for potential rip-offs. Here are a few things to watch for when hiring a contractor:
-Door-to-door solicitation. -Offers to use leftover materials from another job. -A contractor who only accepts cash payments. -Someone who insists on receiving payment in full before commencing work. -Pressure to make an on-the-spot decision. -Offers to help you secure financing with their own "lender".
Hiring a reputable contractor seems like it should be easy, but oftentimes it isn't. Homeowners should be aware of the dangers of hiring the wrong person to work on their home and take all necessary steps to ensure that the work is completed to their specifications, timetable and budget.
Both Bill Mccowen & Matthew Hick are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.