Choosing a contractor for a residential renovation may seem like an overwhelming job. You know how important it is to get the right one, so that your project is completed on time, within budget and how you want it to be. Not just that, the same contractor will actually be working with you throughout the project, so there is an element of personal liking involved as well. It may seem like there are too many different decisions to make and that you hence don't know where to start. Hopefully, this guide will help you to choose the right contractor for your residential renovations.
Ask for Referrals
Most people start by looking for contractors online. This is a great idea, but if you go by their websites alone, you would immediately start to think that they all offer the best of the best. Hence, it is generally a better idea to get some referrals first. Speak to your friends or members of your family and ask if they have had any good (or bad for that matter) experiences.
Ask for Referrals
Most people start by looking for contractors online. This is a great idea, but if you go by their websites alone, you would immediately start to think that they all offer the best of the best. Hence, it is generally a better idea to get some referrals first. Speak to your friends or members of your family and ask if they have had any good (or bad for that matter) experiences.
Word of mouth-hands down, is the best way to find a qualified professional to tackle the job.
Once you have found a number of referrals, then you can start looking further. If you don't know anybody who has had experience with contractors, use the internet to find referrals. There are numerous forums that deal with home renovation and you could find a lot of information through those.
Search for Contractors Online
Now that you have a few referrals, it is time to start searching for actual contractors. Make sure you visit the websites of those you have been referred to and feel free to look at a few others as well. When you browse there, you need to look for the things that are important to you. These should be things such experience in residential project (preferably with a gallery of images and testimonials), timeliness, ethos and so on.
Conduct Interviews
Armed with your referrals and your own research online, you should be able to make a good selection of between three and five contractors. At this point, you should make appointments with each of them and conduct interviews.
Search for Contractors Online
Now that you have a few referrals, it is time to start searching for actual contractors. Make sure you visit the websites of those you have been referred to and feel free to look at a few others as well. When you browse there, you need to look for the things that are important to you. These should be things such experience in residential project (preferably with a gallery of images and testimonials), timeliness, ethos and so on.
Conduct Interviews
Armed with your referrals and your own research online, you should be able to make a good selection of between three and five contractors. At this point, you should make appointments with each of them and conduct interviews.
Take this time to test the contractor's knowledge about permits and how they plan to meet budgets and schedules, as well as who's going to do the actual work.
This will also give you a better feeling about whether or not you would like to work with them at all. Again, you have to remember that you will be working together in close proximity for an extended period of time, so your personal feelings towards the contractor are also quite important. Don't make any on the spot decisions, but take the information you have gathered with you and think about it.
Set Up a Payment Schedule
You should now be in a position where you can choose your contractor. At this time, you will be quoted a certain price for the work they will complete and you should also receive a payment schedule. Some contractors want to have 50% of the money up front and you should avoid these, as they are generally in financial dire straits themselves, or they don't trust you. Instead, you need to find one that offers a fair schedule that is applied throughout the world of contracting.
Set Up a Payment Schedule
You should now be in a position where you can choose your contractor. At this time, you will be quoted a certain price for the work they will complete and you should also receive a payment schedule. Some contractors want to have 50% of the money up front and you should avoid these, as they are generally in financial dire straits themselves, or they don't trust you. Instead, you need to find one that offers a fair schedule that is applied throughout the world of contracting.
For large projects, a schedule usually starts with 10 percent at contract signing, three payments of 25 percent evenly spaced over the duration of the project and a check for the final 15 percent when you feel every item on the punch list has been completed.