Have you decided that the time is right to do some work on your house? Maybe you want some updates done on a specific room, or perhaps you want to entirely gut sections of the house and start from scratch. Either way, if you’re looking at hiring a contractor to do the work, there are some things to be mindful of. You want to be sure the contractor you hire is right for the job and that you’ll be thrilled with the results.
Here we’ll take a look at some of the most important questions to ask when looking for a contractor. It pays to be picky and you don’t want to settle for just any contractor.
Is the Contractor Licensed?
Before you get into all the fun and exciting details, you want to know the contractor is licensed. This should be the first question you ask. You will also want to see a copy of that license and who it was issued by to ensure it is authentic and applies to your state.
Does the Contractor Have Insurance?
This is a question that may not pop to mind but is incredibly important. Be sure to ask about contractors insurance before hiring anyone. This type of insurance is available to a wide array of contractors from handymen to carpenters, drywall contractors, and landscapers. The list goes on and on. This insurance is meant to act as protection against those unexpected accidents and events. The contractor should be able to tell you who they are insured with and what kind of coverage they have.
Do They Have Relevant Experience?
Next, it’s time to ask about specific experiences. Let’s say you want to remodel a bathroom, well if the contractor only does landscaping it’s not a good fit. You need to be sure that their work is relevant. This means they will know all the best practices, techniques, ideas, materials, and tools to use. It also means the work will be done properly.
Do They Use Sub-Contractors?
What some homeowners don’t realize is that not every contractor will work on their own with their crew. It may be necessary to hire sub-contractors. Ask how this will work, how they choose the sub-contractor, how that work is guaranteed, and so forth.
What Is the Timeline?
Here’s a very important question as no one wants to be stuck in a loop of a never-ending renovation project. What will the timeline be for the renovation? What happens if they go past that timeline? Will there be a discount? What is the incentive for them to stay on schedule? You want to be sure the timeline is something you can accept and work with.
What Will be the Work Hours?
This question ties into the timeline as you may also want to ask what a general workday will look like for the contractor and the crew. What is the start and end time each day? Will they be working on weekends? This will help you to manage your expectations and schedule.
How About the Budget?
Then we have the budget, which is usually a top priority with homeowners. A quote should be given to you for the project, but you also need to ask what happens when issues arise that will throw the budget out of whack. You need to be sure you’re giving permission and signing off on added expenses. You don’t want any surprises at the end of the project.
What About References?
Finally, you want to ask for references from other clients/customers. You can then get in touch with a few of those people to ask about their specific experiences with the contractor. Were they happy with the final results, were there any issues, how were those issues handled, what was the quality of service, did the contractor stick to the timeline and budget, and would they use them again?
If possible, it’s a good idea to see photos of previous work, or even visit past customers in person and see the work first-hand.
Making Sure You’re Thrilled with the Results
Taking the time to ask potential contractors all of these questions means you’ll be sure to find the right one for the job. It also means you’ll be increasing the odds that you’ll not only be happy with but thrilled with the results.
