What You Should Know Before Hiring a Contractor

I feel very strongly about this topic because my husband is a contractor, and has been in construction since he was old enough to work. His business focuses on luxury custom renovations. Because of this, I see certain patterns in the industry of home renovations again and again. So here is my advice based on my experience about what you should know before hiring a contractor.

Get More Than One Quote

It is crucial to get a few quotes from different contractors, at minimum two. These should be free, no-obligation quotes. The contractor absolutely needs to do a site visit. You will also want to provide them information about the specific materials you want to use to make sure the quote is accurate and you won't incur any hidden costs. Specific materials could include what vanity, light fixtures, flooring, etc., you want to use. Also, who will be responsible for purchasing these materials?

Ask Questions

Be sure you ask the contractor a range of questions so they will meet your expectations. Great starting questions could be when are they available to start, how long will the project take, what hours will they work, could there be hidden costs in addition to the quote? The more questions you ask, the better off your experience will be.

What Materials Are They Using?

Not all materials are created equal. And neither is labour. Don't be afraid to ask for references and pictures of previous work. Remember, quotes should be broken down to ensure you are comparing Apples to Apples. This is one of the biggest price differences between quotes. For example, in a bathroom renovation the contractor should be using green board drywall to eliminate the possibility of mold forming. This material is more expensive than regular drywall. But what would you rather have in your bathroom?

How Are Their Finishings?

Another common issue I hear about contractors is that they complete 90% of a job and either won't finish, or will poorly finish the last 10%. Checking out finished photos and focusing on the detail will help but not guarantee finishings. A great indication that the finishes will be well done comes from the saying "you get what you pay for". If one quote is coming in substantially lower than the others, you better be asking yourself why.

Check Out Reviews

Be sure to read online reviews so you feel completely comfortable in your final decision. The reviews should do the trick but if you can speak with a past customer that is even better! You can ask them what they liked and didn't like about the contractor to see if they might be the right choice.

If you have any other questions about what you should know before hiring a contractor or for everything real estate, contact me today. Let me help you put down roots in our beautiful community.