As my husband and I are adventuring through this home renovation we are discovering tips and tricks we believe are truly helpful to someone going through the same process. We only hope with this post, that it will enlighten readers that the renovation process can go smoothly with the right people in place.
If you’re preparing for a home renovation, large or small, choosing the right contractor is a big decision that can lead to either a successful home renovation or a disaster. Prior to purchasing our home (read more here & here), Justin and I just assumed decent general contractors were a dime a dozen. We were wrong! For us, the hardest part of our renovation wasn’t the work itself, it was finding a competent and reliable contractor to do the job. Installing cabinets, knocking out walls and retiling the bathroom is simple compared to the struggle of finding and hiring a quality contractor capable of performing at a high-level from start to finish. Luckily, we found a wonderful contractor who’s become a great friend. Finding him took time, time that paid off in the long run. So today, we are sharing 10 successful tips when hiring a general contractor in hopes to help you secure the perfect contractor for your job!
1. Know what you want before you get estimates.
2. Ask friends, relatives and co-workers for references.
After meeting with and receiving bids from four contractors, we were able to narrow our options based the individuals portfolios. We asked a lot of questions and called former clients to learn more about how their experiences. Below are some of the questions we asked, and highly recommend you do as well. Some may sound a bit aggressive, but we assure you they’re not!
- How many projects would you have going at the same time?
- Do you use subcontractors?
- Can you provide a list of previous clients?
- Do you have photos of your work similar to what we wish to have done?
At this time (assuming you are meeting in the space being renovated), request a written bid from each. When you compare bids, make sure each one includes similar, if not the same, materials so that you are comparing apples to apples. Get at least three bids even if you favor a contractor over the others, because you’ll learn something from each “interview.”
5. Check references.
Again, and not aggressive in the slightest, call up former clients or check if their businesses are listed on any public rating site (Angie’s List or Better Business Bureau ‘BBB’) to get a general sense of how they run their businesses. Below are a few questions to ask yourself or references when doing your research:
- Is the job site neat and safe?
- Are workers courteous and careful with the homeowner’s property?
- Are they punctual? Diligent?
6. Expect a contractor to be too busy to start right away.
For us, this was among the most frustrating things that we encountered in our search to find a contractor. The economy and housing market are on the rise, thus general contractors (the good ones) are in high demand. You will most likely hear, “The best contractors are the busy ones,” and that’s partly true. However, we opted for someone who made an effort to prioritize our project within a reasonable timeframe. This brings us to my next point, choose a contractor who is as passionate and invested in the job as you are. Finding someone who is simply there to collect a paycheck will likely result in something that you least desire.
7. Choose the right contractor for the right project.
We needed a contractor willing to work with us in documenting each step of this renovation on film. This is of course due to my career, requiring an immense amount of patience on the contractor’s end. Fortunately, we found a wonderful contractor who treats our home as if it were his own. We have similar personalities that make communicating very easy!
8. Negotiate ground rules.
Once you narrow things down and find the contractor best fit for your project, now is the right time to talk budget. Be very firm in what you wish to allocate for labor and materials. Leave a little wiggle room in your budget, because though you try to avoid it, you will likely go over budget. Kindly ask that the contractor provide a set timeline and schedule for your project. This is important especially if they are taking on numerous projects at once.
9. Sign a detailed contract.
If your project involves plumbing, electrical, major structural changes or if your contractor oversees a large crew of subcontractors, we recommend putting a written contract in place. This will safeguard your investment and provide a peace of mind that everything will run smoothly.
10. Don’t make the final payment until the job is 100% complete.
Don’t make the final payment until you are completely satisfied with the work and have all the lien releases and receipts. At this stage in the game, we are reimbursing our contractor for supplies and materials throughout the course of the project. Most contractors will ask for half of labor costs up front, and we feel that’s fair as it protects them!
xx – TR
Also, thank you all so much for the positive feedback on our DIY Guide to Building a Garden Trellis! We were so humbled by all of the sweet comments, reposts and messages, and hope you found it helpful. If you have any questions, or found any parts confusing, please do let me know either in an email at taylorrae@stylesouffle.com or in the comments section of that post. Also, if you’re new to Style Souffle (welcome!) you can read more, here.
what a great tip from a pro!!
I like that you mentioned to narrow down your search to just three contractors. As my wife and I search for someone to remodel our basement, the amount of contractors out there can be daunting. Focusing on three will help us make a better decision. I also like what you said about interviewing them, that’s essential to building trust. We may even take them out to lunch before we hire them. Great tips, thank you!