Undoubtedly, one of the most difficult parts about building a home or remodeling a home is finding the right contractor to do the job. The challenge comes not only with finding a contractor who can successfully do the work that you want done, but it also comes in finding a contractor who will do quality work, arrive on time, and work within your budget. In order to successfully find a good contractor, it is going to require a lot of hard work on your part. You’re going to have to screen different contractors and see whether or not they live up to your criteria.
A mistake that homeowners make is that in their enthusiasm to get the project done they hire the first person they interview. They are so excited about having the work done, they overlook any warning signs that the contractor they are looking to hire is no good. Really, looking for a contractor to do the job should take longer than it does to actually have the job completed.
Understand the Job You’re Getting Done Before Hiring a Contractor
It is important that the homeowner first understands the project that they are hiring the contractor to do prior to hiring the contractor. Having more knowledge about the job that you want to get done puts you in a better position to ask savvy questions that will tell you whether or not the contractor you are hiring is right for you. Are you having telephone and data lines installed? Are you going to use category five or category six cables? What type of tile are you looking at having on the floor? What materials do you want your cabinets and counters to be made out of? Being armed with this information, a homeowner is better equipped to select a contractor that is best for them.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Referrals
It is said that, you always want to hire the busiest guy because he is the one who is the best at his job. In order to find a good contractor, talk to your neighbors, talk to your friends. Who are they using to do the work in their home? Who are they happy with? Who would they shy away from using again?
Obviously, just because a friend or family member liked working with the particular contractor does not mean that the contractor did his or her job well. However, it is a great place to start. And remember, if you have had work done on your home that you like, don’t be afraid to recommend your contractor to your friends and family.
Don’t Pay Too Much up Front
Any good contractor is not going to be able to start work on your project immediately. They’re probably going to be backed up for a few weeks. So obviously, you’re going to want to secure the job with them. How much should you pay up front? Well, it is recommended that to book a job you should pay no more than 10%. From there on, it is a good idea to set milestones for the project. Have a set price that you will pay when the job is 25% done, 50% done, and so on. Working like this will guarantee that your job will not get halfway done and the contractor will just disappear.
Get a Home Warranty
Finding a good contractor is a challenge. In order to avoid these problems, many have chosen to purchase a home warranty when they buy their home. If they have a home warranty, the warranty guarantees that all of the hassle and expenses of having things repaired in the home is taken care of. When it comes to home repairs, often times, an ounce of prevention is worth more than a ton of cure.
Robert Cordray
Latest posts by Robert Cordray (see all)
- Recruiting for Tomorrow: How to Attract the Millennial Generation - March 15, 2014
- Scanning Through The Past, Looking To The Future - March 9, 2014
Recent Comments