Hiring a home remodeling contractor isn’t as easy as you might think. While it might seem like contractors are everywhere, not every contractor is created equal. Finding the right contractor for your project can make your home improvement or remodel a success. Knowing the steps to find a good remodeling contractor is important. Here’s what you need to know.
Know Your Goals, Scope of Project
Before you even start looking for a contractor, make decisions about your remodeling goals. Know what you’re trying to accomplish, and what’s most important to ensure that your project is a success. Make a list of “must-haves” and “nice to have.” This will help you talk to your contractor about your project when they come for a consultation, and will also help your contractor create a project that will work within your budget.
Meet With 3 Contractors
Once you’ve decided on your project goals, meet with three contractors (or more) to discuss your project and what you’re trying to accomplish. Have some questions prepared for each contractor that you meet. Good questions to ask include:
- How long do you anticipate my project would take? When would you be available to start?
- What challenges do you anticipate you may encounter during this project, and what would you do to manage those challenges?
- Who would be my contact during this project?
- Have you done similar projects? Can I see pictures?
- Do you have references?
- Is the work warrantied?
Review Bids
Once you’ve met with contractors, they should submit bids to you. Some contractors will charge more than others. Try not to prioritize price. While low prices may be tempting, contractors who keep their prices low may be doing so by cutting corners, hiring inexperienced labor, or using low-quality materials. Work performed for less money may not last as long or may have defects that need to be repaired soon after the project is complete.
Hire a contractor that will do the work for a price you can afford, but doesn’t sacrifice quality. When you’re reviewing bids from contractors, ask yourself questions. Why is this bid lower than that bid? Is this an apples-to-apples comparison?
Answering these questions will help you determine which contractor is best for your job.
Check References
Checking references is a good way to ensure that the contractor you’ve selected will do good work. Never hire a contractor that can’t provide references. When you call references, ask questions such as:
- When was the work done?
- What did you hire this contractor to do?
- Would you hire this contractor again and if not, why not?
- Would you refer this contractor to others?
Get Started Looking for the Right Contractor for Your Remodeling Projects in 2022
Hiring the right contractor is important. If you have remodeling projects planned for 2022, start looking now! The best contractors book up quickly. Call Diamond Hill Builders to get started with an estimate.
