Hiring a contractor to remodel your home is a huge responsibility for any homeowner. Since these types of projects usually take a significant amount of money and time, it is important that you hire the best resources in the industry. Because each renovation project has its own unique requirements and specifications, you should always ask the contractor the right questions before you make your final hiring decision. That said, here are seven things to ask a general contractor before you begin your home renovation.
Can you provide me with a written estimate of the work?
Before you hire a contractor for the work that needs to be done, it is important that you ask for a written estimate. This written estimate should provide you with the total price of their labor, materials used, and any other things that you will be charged for. By asking for the estimate in writing, it will help you to avoid any confusion, misunderstandings, and a bill that you really cannot afford to pay.
Do you have recent references from other residential owners?
Before you approve the work, you should always ask for references from other residential owners that they have already completed jobs for. The references that they supply will give you an opportunity to see the quality of their work, while also giving you a chance to talk to previous customers about the overall job itself. For instance, did these contractors meet the deadlines set and were they pleased with the quality of the work that was done? Or, were the contractors able to answer questions like, what is a slab door? Since the responses that a contractor gives need to be clearly explained in order for you to make good decisions, the contractor cannot be lacking in providing good explanations of what needs to be done.
Can you supply a detailed timeline of the work that needs to be done?
To make it easy for you to follow along with the renovation project that they are performing, you need to ask for a documented timeline of the work. You also need to know more than just a start and ending date. For instance, you need a detailed timeline that documents each step of the project that is being performed (i.e., timeframe for installing new kitchen cabinets, the date that custom doors will be installed, and so forth).
How many subcontractors will be assigned to the job and what’s their expertise and experience?
Because some of these projects may require the contractor to hire other third-party companies to complete the renovation by a specific date, you should also learn as much as you can about the quality of their work also. For instance, if the contractor hires another company to install new amenities and ventilation in your bathroom, you need to know how much experience this contractor possesses. For instance, what types of eco-friendly ventilation strategies does the team use to improve the quality of their air?
What form of communication will be used to update you on the progress?
Because there are so many different ways for a contractor to update their customers today, contractors can pick and choose the best option for their group as well as their clients. Therefore, you need to know what forms of communication will be needed so that you can easily receive updates on how well the progress of the work is actually going.
Can I make changes to the renovation without being severely penalised financially?
Just like any other kind of work that has to be done in any type of project in your home, you may need to make some modifications along the way. Therefore, you need to know what the procedures are for making these changes and how the new change may affect the financing of the entire job.
Does your company have licensing and insurance?
Before you allow a contractor to start a renovation project on your property, you need to know if they have general contractor licensing for the work that needs to be performed. You should also check for their certificate of insurance to protect you legally if any accidents occur on your property.