- Get at least three written estimates.
- Check references. If possible, view earlier jobs the contractor completed.
- Check with the local Chamber of Commerce or Better Business Bureau for complaints.
- Be sure the contract states exactly what is to be done and how change orders will be handled.
- Make as small of a down payment as possible so you won’t lose a lot if the contractor fails to complete the job.
- Be sure that the contractor has the necessary permits, licenses, and insurance.
- Check that the contract states when the work will be completed and what recourse you have if it isn’t. Also, remember that in many instances you can cancel a contract within three business days of signing it.
- Ask if the contractor’s workers will do the entire job or whether subcontractors will be involved too.
- Get the contractor to indemnify you if work does not meet any local building codes or regulations.
- Be sure that the contract specifies the contractor will clean up after the job and be responsible for any damage.
- Guarantee that the materials that will be used meet your specifications.
- Don’t make the final payment until you’re satisfied with the work.
April 30, 2015
In your article, you stated that ask if the contractor’s workers will do the entire job or whether subcontractors will be involved too. For Christmas this year I am allowing my wife to remodel our kitchen and dining room. I wonder if most contractors have a certain style that they like to go with.
Good Luck with that! You should consider hiring not only a contractor but also a designer. This will save you time and money in the long run. Remodeling a kitchen and dining room are a few areas not to skimp on!
I had never considered to make as small of down payment as possible just in case the contractor doesn’t do the job correctly. It makes sense why this would ensure that the contractor does what they promise to do. My mom is wanting to remodel her kitchen in the summer. I’ll have to suggest this to her before she hires someone.
My wife and I are considering getting our bathroom remodeled pretty soon so these tips were all pretty helpful. I especially like how the article suggests checking references. That way you can get an idea of what kind of work will be done, and you can hear from other past clients about their experiences with that contractor. I’d feel better hiring a contractor for my bathroom remodel project knowing he has a history of satisfied clients.
I really liked your advice about the contract and making sure it is very explicit in stating exactly what work will be done and how. I feel like having a very clear contract would make it much easier for you to plan your workload accordingly. It would also make sense to me to spend some time getting to know your contractor to make sure that it is someone you feel comfortable with.
A valid point is made by the article when it encourages readers to ask about whether or not the contractor will use subcontractors. After all, you’d want to know if these subcontractors will be held to the same standards as the primary contractor you hired. You want to know if you can trust them to do the work they’ve been hired to do in a timely and efficient manner.
I like that tip to get three estimates. That way you’ll know about how much a project should cost by figuring an average. Make sure that the costs will be offset by the ROI of the project; kitchen and bath upgrades are notably valuable.
These are some great tips for hiring a remodeling contractor. I like how you said to make sure the contract states when the project will be done. Nothing is worse than a project that stretches for days longer than expected. We are remodeling our bathroom soon, so I’ll remember this.
Thanks for your comment about how you should hire a remodeling contractor who is licensed and insured. I like how you said that they should also be able to work on your entire project, or at least have sub contractors they know who will be helping out as well. My husband and I are considering having some reglazing done for our bathtub, and we are considering contractors.
I liked your 8th point about checking on your contractors use of subcontractors. Knowing exactly who will be performing work on your project sounds like a really good way to control the work that is done there to me. If your renovation is on a business or other commercial building it would probably be a good idea to ensure that you hire a contractor who employs civil engineers as well.
My husband and I are looking to remodel our house but we need help in knowing how to hire the right person to help us do so. I am glad that you mentioned that one thing we need to inquire about is if the contractor will be doing the entire job or if they will be using subcontractors to help them complete it. This is something that we will have to remember when it comes to making sure that we choose the right one to help us get things done properly.
Remodeling your home is one of the important part and that may include flooring installation or kitchen remodeling or bathroom remodeling. And to get the better result you should hire a professional contractor. But it is important that you should hire a best contractor. For this you should check their background details, check how many years they have experience. Also check their license and insurance. In your blog the way you explain the 12 tips for hiring a remodeling contractor are really helpful.
My husband and I are planning on remodeling our kitchen, so we are wondering how to find the best contractor to help us. So I appreciate your tip to find a contractor with all of the proper licenses, permits, and insurance. We’ll be sure to ask each kitchen remodeling company we talk to about their permits and licenses.
I hadn’t ever really considered how important it would be to check with your contractor to make sure you remodeling plans meet local building codes and regulations. This is helpful to me since I’d like to get a home theater room installed in the near future. I’d feel much better knowing that my remodel plan is in accordance with local laws.
I like that tip to get three estimates. That way you can compare prices. Also, make sure to find a contractor that’s insured to reduce liability.
I loved to learn that you should see a contractors previous work before hiring them. My cousin is looking to hire a contractor to help him with his new house. I will be sure to mention to him that he can check out his contractor’s past work to check his credibility.
I love that you mentioned that you should check the contractor’s references before deciding to hire them. I am looking for a contractor to help me remodel my kitchen. I will be sure to look at their past jobs and references so I will know if they are a good option for me to hire.
Thanks for the tip about viewing earlier jobs the contractor completed. My husband and I are looking to have our main floor remodeled, but haven’t yet found a contractor that meets our needs. We’ll take a look online to see if we can find pictures of contractors’ previous work. I’m sure this will help us find a contractor who has had success in remodels similar to our own.