Hiring a contractor for your remodeling job is not as easy as it sounds. Even if you think that you are doing all the right thing, there are still many things to be wary about when hiring a contractor. The truth is if you hire wrongly then all your efforts would go in vain. Hence here are some of the most important things that should be taken into account while hiring a remodeling contractor.
1- Verify whether he /she has valid license?
One of the primary concerns before hiring any professional is checking his/her relevant documents. This rule applies to contractors too hence make sure that they have valid license for the job which you want them to do. Remember, even if they have an impressive resume still you should check their documents.
2- References are important
It is natural for every person to make sure that the professionals he/she hires are genuine and reliable. How can you make sure of this? Hiring them would be of no use if they do not possess relevant experience, skills, talents etc. To gain more clarity about their reliability hire them for a few small projects first before hiring them for bigger ones.
3- Experience matters the most
Even though all members of your family might urge you to hire some new people for remodeling yet try to refrain from doing so. Why? The reason behind this is simple; choose someone who has already worked with similar projects in past rather than choosing ‘newbies’. Someone with experience would know better about the things that need to be taken care of while remodeling a home.
4- Get bids from more than one contractor
It is always advisable to get quotes from more than one contractor before hiring anyone for the job. This would give you a fair idea about how much different contractors are quoting for the same service. This would also help you in bargaining and getting the best possible deal.
5- Check insurance and bonding
This is another important factor that should not be overlooked while hiring a remodeling contractor . Make sure that he/she has valid insurance for his crew and himself. In case any accident or damage occurs, you would not have to bear the burden financially. Also, check if the contractor is bonded. This would ensure that in case of any dispute, you can get your money back.
6- Get a contract
It is very important to get a written contract before starting the remodeling project with any contractor. This would include all the details about the project – from start to finish. In case of any differences or misunderstandings, both parties can refer to the contract for clarification.
7- Have regular meetings
This is another very important factor that should not be overlooked while working with contractors. Make sure that you have regular meetings with them so that you can track their progress and also give them feedbacks if necessary. This would help in avoiding any misunderstandings and completing the project on time.
8- Keep a close eye on the budget
This is probably the most important thing that should be taken care of while hiring a contractor. Make sure that you stick to your budget and do not exceed it under any circumstances. This would help in avoiding any financial crisis later on.
Hiring a remodeling contractor can be a daunting task but if done correctly, it can turn out to be a great decision. Just keep these few things in mind and you would be good to go!
