Tips for Hiring Contractors

Are you planning a major home improvement project in the near future? If so, you’re probably in the market for a contractor.

Here are a few important techniques to finding the right professional to handle such a project and get a fair price:

• When possible, try to get recommendations and referrals from people who have had similar work done.


• Call and pre-qualify several contractors. Be sure that each contractor is licensed and insured for workers compensation, property damage, and personal liability. Request references and ask to see contractors work.


• Request a formal bid based on exactly the same plans and specifications. Don’t automatically choose the lowest bid. If one bid is much lower than the others, be suspicious of inexperience. Generally, if it looks to good to be true, it probably is.


• Chemistry with your contractor is crucial. This person may be around your space for some time, and there may be times when you have to deal with difficult issues.


• Ask if your job will be the only one on their plate or whether they’ll be managing multiple projects at the same time. Find out whether the contractor will be on site to supervise or if they will hand it off to a foreman.


• Once you’ve made your selection, ask to see his or her contractor’s license and double-check insurance coverage.

At this point, you and your contractor should agree upon a written contract and both of you should sign it. The contract should include:

• Make sure your plans are thought through completely. It’s fair for a contractor to charge you for changes and modifications that are not in the original plans, particularly if it will require more work or more expensive materials, which can send your budget through the roof.


• Both names and addresses and details of all work to be performed are should be included. Be sure to specify who will be responsible for demolition, cleanup, and trash collection.


• Be sure to include a completion date and details on how and when payments should be made. If the contractor requests a deposit before starting work do not pay more than 10 percent or $1000, whichever is lower. Make additional payments as the work progresses. This gives the contractor continual incentives. Remember: money is your only leverage for getting things done.


• Don’t sign a completion statement or make the final payment until the job has passed final inspection.

When the job is finished, if you feel you’ve been cheated or wronged, you may lodge a formal complaint with the contractor’s licensing board (this is one of the reasons it’s important to work with licensed professionals).

Source: Hometips.com