When a homeowner decides to remodel, the hardest part of the process comes before the work even gets started. Choosing the right contractor isn’t always easy. Sites like Angie’s List can help weed out a lot of choices, but once you’ve narrowed your choices down to a few, how do you choose the one? There are many aspects to consider when deciding on a contractor. By asking following questions, you put yourself in a much better position to make best choice for you and your home.
- What is your relevant experience/workmanship for this type of project?
Seems obvious enough. But depending on the candidate’s answer, there can be some major selling points, as well as red flags. If you’re undergoing a kitchen remodel to the studs, for example, there’s likely to be plumbing involved. Perhaps the contractor you’re considering doesn’t have as much experience with plumbing as you’d like. You won’t know if you don’t ask.
- What kind of insurance coverage do you have?
This question isn’t so obvious to many people. Most people assume every contractor is covered when it comes to insurance, but that isn’t always the case. Many smaller contractors don’t offer either workers compensation or general liability insurance because of the cost. This can be a red flag in more ways than one. Not only are they not prioritizing the safety of their staff, but loopholes in insurance may compromise the completion of the remodel.
- Do you always obtain the permits required for legal construction?
This is another question that seems too obvious to ask. Some contractors sacrifice legalities in order to complete a job which can leave the homeowner at risk when it comes time to resell or remodel again. Make sure the contractor you hire follows through with obtaining the proper permits required for your project.
- What is your protocol for site maintenance during construction?
If you’ve ever worked with a contractor who’s staff does not clean up after themselves at the end of a work day, then you’ll definitely be asking this question when searching for your next contractor. You want to make sure that the contractor you hire values the protection and cleanliness of your home. Sometimes a job requires homeowners to live elsewhere for the duration or a portion of the remodel. Many times though, the family continues to live at the home during construction. Aside from the expected look of a remodel, at the end of the day, all tools and materials should be put away neatly. The workers should cover any nearby furniture to ensure it does not get damaged during construction. Be sure to talk to your contractor about their site maintenance policy before hiring them for the job.
- Will we be working off a checklist?
Prior to beginning a job, your contractor should outline every step in the process clearly so you can accompany the progress of the remodel. By having access to a checklist, it allows you to ask relevant questions to a specific portion of the remodel, as well as assess your contractor’s attention to detail on various things.
- How will our communication occur and how often?
Many people underestimate the value of a hands on, communicative contractor—especially if you’re a homeowner that plans on accompanying the project closely. Ask your contractor if they’re open to being reached on a daily or weekly basis. Perhaps they prefer to communicate via email but you’d like a phone call. Ironing out these types of kinks before a job begins can help make the process much smoother.
