Key Considerations When Hiring a Contractor

If you are like most homeowners, your home improvement projects live in a hypothetical stage for a period before you’re ready to start with the “real” process. You think about what you want to do, how much you’ll be able to budget, and start googling some questions about what you can expect to spend and how things work. The challenge comes when you are ready to take your home improvement project from plan to action. When you are prepared for that real planning, you need to reach out to a contractor for estimates, availability, and instructions on getting the process started. Hiring a contractor is the first step to getting your renovation moving. Who you hire is a big factor in how smoothly your project will go, and anyone making this kind of investment in their home wants to make sure they’ve made the right choice. Some key considerations can make you feel confident in your choice when you hire a contractor for your project.

Understand What Kind of Contractor You Need

When most people hear “contractor” for a home improvement project, they describe a general contractor. A general contractor is essentially the project manager for your renovation. They will plan out the full scope of work, which will likely include several different projects, and will work on coordinating the materials, schedule, and subcontractors. A general contractor may or may not be at your home every day that work is taking place, and will likely not be doing the majority of the hands-on work, but will be checking in on progress, coordinating the different pieces, and managing communication between you and the subcontractors. If you are doing several other projects (such as roof, windows, and siding) or a project that will need a lot of specialty work done (a kitchen renovation can involve flooring, electrical work, and plumbing), a general contractor is the best way to keep the project on track.

If you are doing a project with a single focus, it may make more sense to go to a specialty contractor. Some contractors focus only on bathroom renovations, kitchen renovations, or exterior work like roofing and windows. While a general contractor can handle a single focus project, you may have more options by going to a specialist.

Ask the Right Questions

Whether you make your short list of contractors from a Google search, asking in your local neighborhood group, or by polling friends and family, you should aim to narrow it down to about three contractors to call for estimates. When you reach out to these contractors, you’ll set up an appointment for them to visit your home so you can go over exactly what you want and allow them to see the current space. Most contractors will take some basic measurements and ask some clarifying questions to make sure they understand what you want. However, this is your time to ask some questions to help you narrow down your search. Sometimes, how the contractor answers the question is more important than the answer itself. Some of the best questions to ask are:

• How Long Have You Been in Business?

There is no “right” answer to this question, but established companies usually have a strong reputation that’s allowed them to stay in business and will often have a large network of trusted suppliers and experts to draw from. However, a newer contractor who has just taken the leap to go off on their own can be focused on building their reputation, which can benefit you.

• How Do You Determine Pricing and What is Your Payment Structure?

Different contractors handle things differently, and as long as both you and the contractor are protecting yourselves, there are several other pricing and payment structures that are fair. Most contractors will require an up-front payment at the signing, then payments at various checkpoints throughout the project, with the final payment due at completion. Whatever the structure, make sure that it is clearly laid out, with everything that is included clearly stated in the contract, to avoid unpleasant surprises.

Determine if You are a “Fit”

There may be a contractor you meet with who is giving you all the right answers to your questions, comes in with a competitive estimate, and is ready to take on your project whenever you’re ready to start, but for whatever reason, you aren’t feeling it. Maybe it’s their communication style, maybe the answers you are getting feel vague, or maybe you just don’t feel like your vision is aligning. If this happens, it may be worth looking to see if there is someone you connect with more easily before you sign the contract. Some contractors do everything at the lowest possible cost, while others focus on premium materials and high-end choices. Talk to your potential contractors about what they feel sets them apart and see if that aligns with your vision. Some may be most proud of their customer satisfaction and reputation, some may be proud of their craftsmanship and final results, and others may pride themselves on the ability to come in on time and under budget.

When you hire a contractor for your project, it’s not just about who came in with the lowest estimate. You need to make sure that the three main boxes are checked.They need to be the right contractor for the work you are planning, have the correct answers to your questions, and, most importantly, be the right fit for you. You will be working closely with your contractor for the entire duration of your project, and if you want to minimize stress, you need to make sure that you are confident that you’ve chosen the right match. By taking the time to research, ask your questions, and understand how different contractors operate, you can feel certain that you’ve made the best choice for your home improvement project.

Ready to move from planning to building? Contact Total Quality Construction for a detailed estimate and confidently start your home upgrade.