One of the first steps in the home renovation process is
hiring a general contractor. You or someone you know may have strong opinions
about contractors – there are certainly a fair number of people out there who
have been scammed
in the past. But by doing some research and being proactive, you can rest
assured you will be choosing a licensed professional with the experience to
provide the final product you envision. These are some tips to help you get
started.
The hiring process typically begins with getting some
recommendations from friends, family and coworkers if possible. You may also
check with a local lumberyard or hardware store. This can give you a good idea
of which contractors others have had success with.
You can also search online. Cast a wide net – consider large
and small companies. Make a list of possible choices, then begin checking sites
like Angie’s List
or the Better Business Bureau
(BBB). Reviews
should not dictate your final decision, but they can help you narrow your
options further.
After you have a list of potential candidates, make some
phone calls to learn more about them. Ask questions such as:
- Are they registered with the state and insured?
- Have they completed a project like yours in the
past?
- Who are their subcontractors?
- Can they provide you with references from
clients, suppliers and banks?
- Will they be working on other projects at the
same time? If so, how many?
Consider how they interact with you – were they professional
when answering the phone? Were their answers satisfactory, or did they give you
the runaround? Did they take your questions seriously and treat you with
respect? These are important factors to keep in mind.
You will want at
least three bids, so try to schedule an in-person meeting with four to six
contractors if possible. That way you leave yourself options moving forward.
This is a job interview – you should ask plenty of detailed
questions to get an idea of their character and previous work history. In
addition to the questions you asked over the phone, inquire about:
- How long
they have been in business
– In general, the longer, the better. Pop-up
contractors with little reputation could be looking for a quick buck and may
not be around if something needs fixing in the future.
- Where
their business is located
– A permanent address means they are less likely
to “disappear” when something goes wrong.
- How they
have handled disputes in the past
– Even reputable contractors have
complaints made against them. Check with the BBB and find out how problems were
resolved.
- The
details of their insurance coverage
– Be sure it includes workers’
compensation, property damage and liability coverage in case of an accident on
the job. Ask for copies of the policies.
- Their
payment schedules
– Do they offer financing for large projects and are they
flexible? Be wary of contractors asking for large payments upfront – check your
state’s down
payment limits.
- When they
can have a written bid completed
– This is indicative of how seriously they
take deadlines. If they say a certain day or time, they should stick to it.
As mentioned previously, you should receive at least three
bids. They should be in writing and cover costs for labor, materials and profit
margins. They should also outline the payment plan and work schedule. If there
is an abnormally low bid, experts
recommend you toss it out. That contractor could be desperate for work or
not planning on doing a good job.
If you did your research and were diligent during the
interview process, you should have landed on a general contractor who seems
trustworthy and capable of performing quality work. Not all states require
written contracts, but you should make sure they provide you with one
regardless.
Your contract should include:
Just because you have signed the dotted line and the work
has started does not mean your job is done. Most experts recommend taking
photographs and writing down any verbal communication you have with your
contractor throughout the job to help settle potential disputes.
You should also consider making a checklist of everything
that should have been completed according to the contract and go over the list
with your contractor before handing over the final payment. Keep all these
documents in a safe place.
Though hiring a general contractor may seem daunting, it
pays to be thorough every step of the way. If you are searching for a reputable
roofing contractor in the Spokane area, look no further than Alpine
Construction. Our team of contractors have been providing the area with quality
roof construction and remodeling services for more than 30 years.
Call 509-448-8099 today or contact us online
for a FREE estimate!
