Choosing the Right Contractor for Your Remodeling Project
Finding the right people to work on your remodeling projects is one of the most important parts of the remodeling process. You have to ensure that the construction company you work with can meet your needs.
When looking for contractors, a good place to start is your network. Talk to your loved ones, neighbors, or coworkers, and ask them if they can recommend a contractor they have personally worked with.
Once you’ve gathered recommendations, research about the contractors. Ideally, the company you choose should have all the required local and state licenses. It should also have an excellent reputation and years of experience in the industry.
Try to learn as much as you can about how the contractors manage their business. Details such as the amount of insurance coverage they have and their reputation in the community can help you decide if they are qualified enough to complete the project you have in mind.
Narrow down your list and start setting up meetings with each of the contractors you are interested in. Having at most three candidates is a good place to start so that you don’t overwhelm yourself with options.
Viewing the contractors’ projects is a good way to measure the quality of their work. At this point, you should contact previous customers and ask them how pleased they were with the outcome of their home improvement projects.
When you finally decide on a contractor to work with, check if the documents they present look professional. You should also read the contract carefully to make sure that it is fair and balanced. Look for the following in the legal agreement:
- A bid price and payment schedule
- Specifics about the scope of work
- The site plan
- A sequential schedule of primary construction tasks
- A change-order clause
- A written procedural list for close-out
- An express limited warranty
- A clause about dispute resolution
- A waiver of lien that prevents subcontractors and suppliers from putting a lien on a house should their invoices go unpaid by the contractor
Go through the contract several times if needed. Once you are sure that everything is satisfactory, you can sign the dotted line with confidence.