Finding the Right Contractor For Your Renovation

Finding the Right Contractor For Your Renovation

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Finding the Right Contractor For Your Renovation

A good contractor is hard to find. You want to make sure you hire a reliable contractor who has your vision and best interest at heart. Choosing the right contractor can also make the difference between a successful flooring renovation project and a complete disaster. If you don’t know where to start, or are beginning your research now, here are 8 tips on how to hire the perfect contractor:

1. Word of mouth

Start with your own personal network of friends and family to see if they have worked with a contractor that they would recommend. See if the contractor they used was attentive, reliable, easy to work with and met their expectations. This could also be useful in determining who NOT to hire.

Yelp, Thumbtack, Angie’s List and Houzz are also some very helpful online resources to find local contractors with reviews from previous clients readily available. That way, you can get a sense of how the contractors work from an unbiased source.

2. Be prepared

Have a general plan on how you want to execute your project. Know what needs to be done, what materials you’d like to use, a deadline for the project, and what your budget is. The more specific you are with the details, the more accurate your estimate will be with potential contractors.

3. Conduct preliminary interviews

Be sure to choose contractors that are a good fit with your project. A great tile flooring contractor may not be the best for a roofing project. Assemble a list of 5-6 contractors for a preliminary interview. Call your prospects and ask them the following basic questions:

• Do they take on projects of your size?
• Do they have any financial references?
• Can they provide reference of their work with previous projects and/or clients?
• How many other projects are they currently working on?
• Can they work with your budget?
• What is their license number?
• Are they insured?

Check their references, licenses and insurance. Also make sure there are no liens against them.

4. Choose your top 3 contractors for in-person estimations

Narrow your list to the top 3 contractors for an in-person interview and estimation for your project. Write down all of your detailed questions beforehand, so you are prepared with them during your meeting. Make sure each contractor provides you with a written bid that includes materials and tasks. Don’t be afraid to negotiate between your bids before signing a final contract.

5. Know who’s working for them

Will the person you’re hiring be performing the work, or will it be subcontracted to someone else? Know who is showing up on your doorstep when everything begins. Look into the references for subcontractors, if any.

6. Have a detailed, written and signed contract

The written contract bonds you and your contractor with an agreement of work. The contract should include costs, brands of the items installed, approximate start and finish dates, and complete set of drawings being used. The more details included in the contract, the better. Make sure that the contract spells out everything and doesn’t leave you in the dark for any aspect of the project. Agree on everything up front, so there won’t be any surprises later in the project.

7. Have Realistic Expectations

Let’s be real. Your project won’t be the one and only renovation your contractor is working on. The best of the best will always be busy, so have realistic expectations on their availability and time frame.

8. Go With Your Gut

A contractor will be in your personal space and around your family for an extended period of time. Make sure you like them. If there is even an inkling of doubt in their professionalism, reliability or trust in general, don’t hire him or her.

I hope that now you feel more equipped on hiring a professional contractor for your project. Once you have your contractor, make sure you know how to buy your products. Here’s our guide on how to buy floors online.

Have any other questions or need more tips? Let us know!

Original article and pictures take www.gohaus.com site