Whether turning your one story into a two story or just replacing your windows, you’re going to need to hire a contractor. Finding a reliable and trustworthy contractor is the most important part of remodeling your home. Read on for 10 things to think about when hiring a contractor, and some advice on where to find a contractor and warning signs that a contractor is a bad choice.
1. Verify which materials the contractor will be using. A low price may indicate that the contractor will use substandard materials. You may be willing to live with that, but know that it will lower the resale value of your home.
2. Ask for an itemized list of the quote. Aside from cheap materials, the contractor may be hiring inexperienced workers to cut costs. If labor costs are low, chances are the workers are low paid and most likely inexperienced.
3. Ask for references. And check them. Make sure you get at least 3 past clients, but the longer the list, the more reliable it is. Shady contractors may use family members to stand in for real references. A long list is hard to fake. Make sure you call all the references. Ask to see the work that was done.
4. Don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions. After all, it is your home. You will want to have a thorough knowledge and understanding about what is going to happen to your home. If a contractor doesn’t want to take the time to answer questions, move on.
5. Know how much supplies cost at retail value. This way, you’ll know if you’re being charged fairly. Contractors will add a mark-up to the retail price of the materials, that’s normal, just double check that it’s reasonable.
6. Get everything in writing. A contract is the best way to prevent problems or disagreements about the terms or expectations later.
7. Verify the contractor’s business location. Go down to the office to make sure the address is legitimate. If you have problems with the work, you’ll want to be able to walk into an office instead of rely on using technology to force the contractor to speak with you.
8. Define the scope of the job. Find out what the contractor considers part of the job. Does it include cleanup and removal of excess materials?
9. Secure proofs of necessary permits before remodeling begins. These permits are important for safety and financial reasons. Buildings not built to code or without the proper permits are subject to fines and more. Also, work done without a permit dramatically lowers the resale value of your home.
10. Make sure you like the contractor. Don’t underestimate the importance of liking the contractor you hire. You will be in constant contact until the job is done and the contractor and his team will be in your home often without you present. Make sure you trust the contractor. Trust your gut feeling and move on to another contractor if you get a strange vibe.
Warning signs that the self-declared contractor may be scamming you:
- Door-to-door solicitors claiming to be contractors
- Contractor asks you to secure the necessary permits
- Cash only payment accepted
- Doesn’t provide a cell number
- Wants a large down payment
- Unresponsive or has delayed response
- Pressure you into making a decision right away
- Giving you papers to sign with blank spaces or with not enough time to read through them.
Where to find a contractor:
- Personal referrals. This gives you access to a contractor with verifiable work.
- Online directories, i.e. Yelp, Angie’s List, etc. You can see all of the contractors near you and have access to online reviews
- Your real estate agent. The real estate agent that helped you buy the home probably has a contractor they trust and like working with.
Tip: Don’t pay in full until you are 100% satisfied with the job and don’t mind never seeing the contractor again.
Be thorough when looking for the contractor. Verify everything from their business address to the validity of the provided references. The more cooperative and transparent a contractor is from the beginning, the more confident you can be that this is how they will remain. Hiring the right contractor for the job and for you will make the process of remodeling an exciting one.
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