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Selecting a qualified local contractor to undertake any size or type of home improvement project can be
an overwhelming task. Many homeowners are exposed to the wonders of home improvement projects through
television programs where miracles are created in a couple hours for a couple thousand dollars; however,
in reality most projects home improvement projects take a few days (if not weeks) and more than a couple
thousand dollars to complete.
Selecting the right home improvement contractor is as important as selecting your family’s dentist. Not
all contractors (or dentists) are created equal; in fact the most successful contractors often have the
same traits as your local dentist. A good contractor gets to know your home, like a good dentist gets to
know your teeth, in that, he/she knows what spots in your mouth are sensitive, when to let you swallow
when filling a cavity, and sometimes your unfortunate history of cavities. A good contractor will know
your home’s construction style and therefore your home’s history and limitations.
The right home improvement contractor will work with you, not for you, when building a truly value-added
project to your home. They will comfort you at times allowing you to be creative and press you at other
times when the project is slipping and decisions are needed - and the really good ones will take you out
to dinner when you are in the midst of the ‘drywall phase’.
So, how do you select a really good home improvement contractor? You interview them – looking for the
right balance between price and quality. You need to look for the person you feel will provide the best
all-around service available-above-and-beyond the necessary construction skills. Like all dentists are
trained to fill a cavity, all contractors are trained to build walls, windows, and eventually homes;
therefore if you question a contractor’s skill set it is best to stay away.
The following questions will help you establish a company's qualifications and reputation, and help you
find the right person for your job.
Look for a company with an established business history in your
community. Surprising 80% of home improvement contractors go out of business within their first five
years of operation. Finding a contractor that has at least 5 years of experience will help in securing
a true home improvement professional.
This individual will operate as your day to day
contact as long as your project is active. You should also have a contact if the project manager is not
available. Get exact names and contact phone numbers for all persons who will be involved in the project.
This is the time that you will find that true home
improvement projects take longer in reality, than on reality shows. You would be best served by asking:
What is your estimate for completion? What are your crew hours (start and end)? Will I be contacted
about delays or changes in the schedule?
This will give you an idea of how the contractor
works and what to expect during the project. This is one of the big indicators of the company's work
ethic and priority that your job will have with this contractor.
Essentially, does the contractor use subcontractors or do they have their own
employees? Also, ask when managing a project do you use a project manager or lead carpenter oversee
projects and staff? Knowing “the who’s” and “the what’s” regarding your project will eliminate a
lot of headaches and run-around in the future.
If you are considering a large home improvement project,
you will need design services. If the contractor does not currently have an architect on staff
or if they do not have the “design-build” capabilities to support your project, you should
consider hiring a licensed architect.
Ask for the companies copies
of the insurance certificates to physically verify their coverage and to ensure that their insurance
covers your type of project. In addition, some states require licensing and registration in order
to be a home improvement contractor. If your state does have construction licensing laws, ask for
your contractor's registration and license - you might want to verify that information with your
local governing body.
Get a minimum of three
references, including names, telephone numbers and addresses. As a follow up to this question, ask
how long ago the project was completed and if there is a possibility that you can visit the project
site to see the finished project.
This provides an indicator
to see if your contractor is operating out of his scope. What projects can he/she handle and what
projects he cannot. You should always confirm with the contractor that a large part of the
completed projects were in fact similar to the type of project you are proposing with him/her.
Do not be misguided by this response the overwhelming amount
of localities require permits for building projects. Failure to obtain any and all necessary permits
it can cost you the entire project, not just financial but in some cases the locality may require
that the project has to be demolished, if there is no way to comply with the law.
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