The Top 5 Tips When Hiring a Contractor
Hiring a contractor for a home remodeling project can be a daunting task. With the sheer amount of contractors available to choose from, how should you go about picking the right one for their project? Below are five tips that will help you when it comes time to hire a contractor for your home remodeling projects!
Get Recommendations and Check Reviews
This is still one of the very best ways to make sure that you are hiring someone that is going to be able to do great work for your home remodeling project. Check with friends and family and see who they have used in the past. Ask about their experiences with the contractor, both positive and negative. And be sure to check out Facebook and Google for reviews. Contractors will also have pictures of their prior work on those platforms, and you’ll be able to tell if what they are good at is something you are interested in having done on your property.
Call and Set Up An In Person Meeting
When considering any contractor for your home remodeling project, it’s best to always call and speak with the contractor on the phone. You can certainly ask questions at this stage, but understand that you might be talking to someone whose sole focus is doing office and administrative work. Instead, it’s best to call and ask general questions, and see if you could schedule a time with an Estimator. At that meeting, it’s best to come as prepared as possible and ask questions pertaining to the work, and how the contractor will handle everything toward completion. Anything and everything you can think of would be great to ask your home remodeling contractor at this stage.
Get 3 to 5 Estimates
It’s really important to make sure that you receive a number of estimates for your home remodeling project. Typically, a great range to be at is 3 to 5. If you get any fewer then you run the risk of settling. If you get more than 5, you run the risk of being overloaded with information and unable to make a choice. 3 to 5 estimates will give you a good range to see what the market values your work at for your home remodeling project.
Don’t Base Your Decision on Price Alone
We can’t stress this enough, but price is not always the best indicator for success on your project. Many people would tell you to cast aside the lowest and highest bids, and you’re well within your right to do that. However, it’s best to consider several other means of determining who would be the best for your home remodeling project.
Did you have clear and concise communication with your contractor? Did they make you feel valued? Did they answer your questions with confidence? Do you feel they are reputable, and someone you could trust to be in your home for any period of time? Consider these questions on top of price and you’ll usually find the best value for your money for your project.
And as a final note on this, always be open and honest with your contractor. If something doesn’t feel right, ask them about it. Try to work with them as much as possible to make sure the scope of work is correct.
Always Follow What’s Written
Now that you’ve chosen a contractor, make sure that the estimate and/or contract is very clear. Double and triple check everything to make sure it includes all of the aspects you’re looking to have finished on your home remodeling project. Ask questions if something seems off, and verify that it’s exactly how you want it to be. Then sign off on it! Now, a word of warning, whatever is written is always what the scope of work will be. As soon as you make a change, or a problem is uncovered, the price goes up. Always remember that the four most expensive words you can say to a contractor are, “While you’re at it. . .”
With these five tips, you should be able to hire a qualified contractor for your next home remodeling project. Follow them, and they should get you to the right contractor for your needs. And at Kees Construction and Remodeling, we aim to go above and beyond your expectations. Our customers have raved about our willingness to work with them on any need, and we always aim to deliver a quality home remodeling project. We will work with you on your budget, and provide options for you to help unlock your home’s potential. Give us a call, or email us today to see how we can help with your home remodeling projects!