Hiring a Contractor
Many people rely on friends, acquaintances or colleagues for referrals of contractors. This can be an efficient way to obtain names of professionals to work with. It can
provide you the opportunity to see completed work first hand and get an honest opinion about a contractor and his work.
Whether you meet a contractor through a referral from a friend or by any other means, do not be in a hurry to make a decision. If a contractor is highly-recommended by an
architect, find out whether they have a personal relationship or mutual business interests. In some cases, this can be unfavorable for the owner. Meet with a minimum of
three contractors to discuss your plans. Try to get a general impression of which contractor you would be able to communicate with the best. Use professional courtesy and
avoid confusion by scheduling each contractor to meet with you at a different time.
Many contractors offer free estimates. Confirm estimate charges, if any, with each contractor before they meet with you to discuss your project. Do not be pressured into
signing a contract during an initial visit. Sometimes, estimates or proposals have contracts incorporated into them. As general rule, estimates dont need an owner's signature.
Dont be fooled by slick salesmen who tell you that you need to sign an estimate to acknowledge that it was given to you. You don't. Be careful of what you sign.
When each contractor comes out for the initial visit, be prepared with a list of items to discuss. Present plans or drawings of the work and detailed specifications. Include
any design ideas you have. Magazine clippings are sometimes helpful.
Be frank and direct to the point as you question each contractor's abilities and experience. A contractor is a consultant as well as an estimator. Try to obtain as much
information as possible about your specific project. Take notes.
When interviewing contractors remember that they are interviewing you, too. Most reputable contractors will ask questions about your lifestyle, needs and expectations.
Knowing whether an owner is interested in quality (not just price) can be a big factor in deciding whether or not to bid a job. A contractor is more likely to be
interested in bidding a project when the owner has a complete, legible list of specifications and has researched costs. On the other hand, a contractor may not want to
bid a project for an owner who does not have a specifications list and insists he will choose the lowest bidder.
The Five Essentials in Selecting a Contractor
1) Fully licensed or registered - Check all documents for validity. Be thorough. Call the appropriate authorities to confirm they are in effect and when they expire.
Dont forget to check the driver's license and confirm the information.
2) Fully Insured - Ask each contractor to provide you with copies of their insurance coverage. Also request copies of bond certificates, if bonded. Again, be thorough and
check the validity.
3) Clean complaint record - Check the BBB (Better Business Bureau), building associations and consumer protection agencies, as well as Arizona's Department of Consumer
Services and the Department of Professional Regulation. Ask if each contractor has had any prior complaints filed against him or penalties imposed on his license.
4) Established local business, good reputation with local supply house.
Confirm a physical address and local phone number for the contractor. visit the address and call the phone number to be sure ther are valid. Be wary of PO Box numbers
or motel addresses as their business addresses.
Request a financial statement from the contractor. You may also check a contractor's financial status through various credit sources.
5) Satisfied previous clients - Request a list of references of previous clients. This is important whether a contractor is a referral from a friend, co-worker or anyone
else. Choose referrals whose projects are similar to yours. Ask about recurring problems during or after construction. Ask specific questions regarding timeliness,
response to concerns and requests, job clean-up and overall quality.
Here is a step by step guide to help you hire a quality home improvement contractor.
Before talking to any contractors the first thing to do is create a budget for the project. Without a budget you will be flying blind and may end up over spending. Having a tight budget will also help you make decisions about what kind of fixtures, and materials to purchase. Most products have a wide price range and having a budget will help keep you in line when making buying decisions.
After you have your budget dialed in get three written estimates from three different contractors. Be sure the estimate is complete; getting a “written” estimate on the back of a business card is not a sign of a good contractor. Getting three estimates will enable you to compare prices from different contractors. Reliableremodeler.com is a great service that will help you get free estimates from quality contractors for free.
Take the time to talk with each contractor and get a feel for which one you will be most comfortable working with and having in your home. Be sure and pay attention to things like who shows up on time and who is prepared to talk about your project. If a contractor shows up late to your appointment chances are they will show up late when working on your project.
While you are in the process of selecting a contractor it is a good idea to make sure they have the proper license, insurance, and bonding. All three of these items are in place to protect homeowners. Working with a contractor who isn’t licensed or doesn’t have the proper insurance might come back to haunt you. A good contractor will show you copies of these documents when they present your written estimate.
The next step is to check the references of the contractor you are leaning towards selecting. Be sure to ask specific questions about their experience with the contractor. “Did the contractor show up on time?” “Did the contractor clean up after themselves?” If you want to be more aggressive you can ask the contractor for the names and numbers of their last three jobs and call those instead of their handpicked references. This will provide a more realistic overview of the contractors daily work habits and skills.
The last step is to select your contractor and have them provide you a timeline for the completion of the project. Having a timeline will help ensure your project is completed in a timely manner.
Are you ready to start?
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