How to Hire a Renovation Contractor7803730
Renovations small and large generally need an expert's touch which is why many homeowners choose to hire a renovation contractor. When it comes to finding and hiring a contractor, it is important to remember that not all experts provide the exact same quality and calibre of work. As such, you should take some time to research various potential candidates and hire somebody that can not only work within your budget, but one that can also provide proof of excellent workmanship. Nonetheless, if you're a novice, you're most likely asking your self about what to look for in a renovation contractor. The following pro tips will help you distinguish the best from the rest.
Get Recommendations
Speak to family members, friends, and colleagues for renovation contractor recommendations. You can even verify the Better Business Bureau for contractors with high ratings. Similarly, local building inspectors probably know which contractors have the best reputations.
Conduct Interviews
Even if it's just a matter of a fast phone call, you should conduct interviews with your list of suggested contractors. You want to know if they complete projects your size and whether or not they have other ongoing projects at the exact same time. You can even ask how long they've worked with their numerous subcontractors to make sure they hire quality professionals. Also, ask for references. Ultimately, you want to interview contractors to learn more about their availability, reliability, and communication styles.
Check References
Following your phone interview, you've most likely narrowed your list to a handful of potential contractors, and now you're ready to do some real research. Get in touch with the contractors' references and ask about the quality of work and whether the project stayed on time and on budget. You can even ask previous customers if you can come by and view the work. Similarly, ask the contractor if you can go to a present job site so you can judge the contractor's professionalism.
Ask for Quotes
Now you have probably narrowed your search even much more, and you can ask your shortlisted contractors to review your blueprints and give you a bid. Always ask that the bid consist of a breakdown of costs related to supplies, labour, profits, and other expenses. In most renovations, materials represent about 40 percent of the total cost of the project. Profit margins should variety in between 15 and 20 percent. Most experts recommend that you not let price be your final deciding factor. One typical piece of advice is to throw out the lowest bid as these contractors tend to reduce corners and this may impact the high quality of the renovation. In reality, the primary aspect that should guide your decision is the contractor's communication style. You'll be working together for the duration of your project and you want to know you can communicate with each other.
Draw Up a Contract
Lastly, you want to put in writing all elements of the project from payment schedule and proof of insurance to types and price of material and completion date. Agreeing in advance on a particular contract will help keep the renovation project moving smoothly.
