Doing the Job right
Any remodeling or repair job requires good planning. First things first. Are you going to do it yourself? Do you have the skills? Do you have the time? Do you have the budget?
Do you have a list of things to buy? These are the things you keep in mind, before starting the project.
If you dont have the skill to do the job, it is better to hire an honest contractor to do it for you. This will save you cash in the long run and less headache.
Be sure that you get a licensed contractor and not just those people you find around the corner. Make sure that your get at least 3 quotes from contractors. Interview them thoroughly.
Get a written and signed quote. Things tend to get changed when the actual job starts without a proof of agreed estimate. Check the company with BBB (Better Business Bureau). BBB lists
the number of complaints and actions made by the company. To know more about finding a contractor, click to "Guide in Hiring a Contractor".
If you are doing the repair or remodeling yourself, prepare the list of things to use. This includes the tools you need, the materials, and safety equiptments.
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.
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