If you feel as though your house needs something new and refreshing, then remodeling is probably the thing you need. But to remodel your house, a vital component is needed to make sure that everything goes according to plan, and that thing is called a general contractor.
But finding a general contractor can be a tricky thing. It’s important to put all your attention to it because it could be the difference between a flawless job and a disappointing one. That’s why we’ve got a few tips for you that will help you how to choose a general contractor.
1. Ask Around
It’s considered a general rule of thumb to ask your friends and family if they know any reliable contractor that they can recommend to you. Chances are, you might know one person that has had some kind of home renovation, and that’s the person who you’ll be getting on the phone. When in this situation, make sure to ask a few questions such as:
- Is the contractor reliable?
- Did he do a good job?
- Are you satisfied with the work?
- Was the job completed on time?
- Does he have the required permits and licenses?
- Would they hire him again?
These are only some of the questions suggested by 800 Remodeling. You can always get more insight into these, and they will definitely help you have a clearer picture of what you need.
2. Schedule Some Interviews
Now that you’ve got a few recommendations from your closest friends and family, it’s time to pick up the phone and contact them. When in this situation, it’s also important to ask a further few questions such as:
- Have they ever performed the renovations you need?
- Do they have well-known suppliers that can supply the building materials?
- Will the company rely on your payments, or is it in good financial health to make purchases on materials?
- Can they provide references for how good a job they’ve done?
- Do they specialize in any specific type of renovation?
Once you’ve asked some of these questions, schedule a few interviews with the desired candidates.
3. Check For Their License
Sooner rather than later, your list will consist of two to three general contractors. But you will still need to narrow it down to a single candidate. To enquire about the validity of each candidate, you can check their license with state contracting boards to make sure that there aren’t any complaints with the local BBB.
4. Spend Some Time With the Contractor
To get a better sense of how professional and capable the contractor is, give you a list of things you need and want for each part of the renovation. If he is as good as he says, he will point out the problems with your plans. This is exactly the person that you’re looking for. Having the ability to point out the things that do not fit with your plans, and finding the perfect solution to them, is the type of contractor you’re after. Review the space that you want to renovate and bring your contractor to your home to inspect. This is where you and the contractor will get to know each other better, and you can make your decision based on that.
Nicola Holder 