Home renovations can be nerve wrecking. You are paying a team of strangers to break down parts of your house and rebuild it better. You will have to trust them completely that they will complete the work for which you paid them. A right contractor will save you from many headaches and give you a service that will last a lifetime
Whether it is an interlocking patio contractor or a concrete contractor, choosing a contractor for any work is a difficult task. You will have to go through heaps of research, contact many candidates, put questions and make the final decision. While there are a specific set of questions and research that you need to work on for a required job, some points are universal.
Here are 5 tips that will help you choose the right contractor for any home project that you have –
Collect and Check Some References
You should start your search by gathering some references. Get to your friends and relatives. You can ask around in your community as well. You will have good insights on whom to choose and the ones to avoid. If they have any experience with contractors then ask them to share some tips and references. They can provide a lot of key details which are far more valuable than any online publication or review site.
Read online reviews that are from actual people. Make sure the reviews that you read are genuine. Check out your local rating agency for the business’s ratings.
Check Their Previous Work
Always insist on getting real client references from the contractor. Call the references and get them to share their experience. If possible, check the work physically. In some bigger projects like driveway reconstruction or landscape work, getting out there and checking the previous work personally becomes a necessity.
Apart from these, check the contractor’s online presence. Always look for real product photos. This is important because many projects like windows and doors should be functional plus have the looks to match. The real-life project photos should available on their website and social media pages. Apart from the photos, also read the user submitted testimonials.
Ask for Estimates with Product Specifications
Some projects can be completely customized. They will be custom manufactured to match the specific design requirements. In such cases, determining the estimates can be difficult. But in the case of standard factory fitted components like doors and windows, the costs can be estimated accurately. Ask for proper product specs and get some proper estimates that match the quality that you are being offered.
Check every specification of the products carefully. Also, some contractors do not mention any paint, fitting, or motor charges until the payment time. Clear this beforehand and ask for complete estimates.
Warranty Details
Some contractors will provide lifetime warranty periods but with a catch. Make sure that you insist on getting the warranty contract clear and explained. It should not have any hidden clauses. It should be legally binding and should be clean and in an easy-to-read language.
Many projects like roof installations require the use of warranty claims because of poor workmanship and installation errors. So don’t take the risk and get a comprehensive warranty that covers both materials and workmanship into consideration.
Take Your Time to Evaluate Many Options
A home renovation project is always challenging to begin. You will have to make some adjustments to your personal life to get the best possible job. So it is important that you choose a contractor that knows his work and values your time.
Go ahead and evaluate many options. Don’t settle for a contractor with just a preliminary research. Go deep, check out as many references as possible and make sure that you get everything in writing. It will save you from a lot of hassles in the future.
