Choosing the right remodeling contractor is a bit tricky, and you have to ensure you know every question you need to ask to ensure that you end up with the right contractor. Therefore, you must do some research first to ensure that you are picking the right person for the job.
I have laid out essential questions you should ask before bringing in a renovation contractor. Please read them over logically.
Essential Questions to Ask
Can I Review Your Past Projects and References?
Any contractor with a good reputation will have examples of their past work to show to potential clients how efficient they are. For instance, if you plan to do some exterior renovations, you should ask the contractor to give you addresses of places they have done the same work.
When they give you addresses, drive yourself to those homes, and assess the contactor’s quality. However, if your renovation project is inside your home, you may have to settle for pictures.
Ask the contractor for some references, and if he can produce them, he will probably do your job adequately. When you call the contractor’s former clients, ask them how professional he was, and how they liked the results of the contactor’s work.
Are You Insured and Licensed?
When you ask any contractor this question, they will probably respond with a resounding yes. However, as the homeowner, you are entitled to ask for proof of documents before you go into business with any contractor.
If the contractor cannot produce documents, then it should be a clear indicator that you are not working with a legit professional. It would be best if you did not do any business with them. The documents are supposed to act as your ultimate protection if anything goes wrong.
Moreover, the documents also prove that the state recognizes the contractor as a professional in their work line. It also proves that they have adequate skills and knowledge in that field.
According to DocDean pools, an expert in swimming pool repairs in Wintergarden specialist, pools, and other parts of your home with particular equipment require appropriate training and tools since they can be easily damaged. Additionally, if they have an insurance policy, it shows that if someone is injured in your property, your assets will not be put at risk.
What is Your Estimate Time Frame for This Project?
Primarily, when you choose to work with a particular contractor, you have to know how much time they will need to complete the project at hand. They don’t have to tell you their daily schedule for the project, but they can surely give you a ballpark idea of the timeframe they think they will need to do the job, and deliver exceptional results adequately.
Additionally, while they don’t have to give you the exact cost of the project, a suitable contactor should have a reasonably good idea of how much the project will cost. The more you are in detail with some of these aspects of your renovation project, the better.
It would be best if you also asked the contractor to give you a more itemized estimate. It will help you get a more detailed picture of how your money will be spent on the project.
Who Will Be Working With You?
More often, the person who will be coming to your home to deliver estimates will not be the person who is overseeing the whole project. For instance, it can be a lead carpenter or an overall project manager.
However, it does not matter who it is, but you are entitled to a list of people that may end up coming to your home. The contractor should be able to give you a full detailed list of people that will be around your home during the renovation time.
What is the Process if a Change is Needed?
The contractor and his team will do a job that encounters drawbacks sometimes. For instance, the construction team could come across unforeseen structural hindrance, or products may run out of stock before the project is completed.
When such things happen, some changes have to be made, and they may significantly affect the project time frame and budget. Necessarily, you will want these changes to be run by you first and documented before the changes are implemented.
It should be a change of order document, which is an extension to the initial contract. It should be signed off by both you and your contractor for official purposes.
Final Thoughts on Working With a Contractor
The bottom line is that you should always do business with a contractor who has earned your trust by adequately answering all your questions. A reliable contractor will answer the above questions in the utmost good faith, and provide adequate legal documents.