Home remodeling is a nerve-racking job. Everything starts from scratch in this process along with an additional burden of the demolition of what is not required. From tearing down the unnecessary wall partitions and the out-dated interiors or deconstructing the complete building – everything forms a part of the demolition process.
Remodeling as the term suggests refers to altering the layout or structure of the building. So, to achieve that complete alteration, you would first need a demolition contractor. But hiring one isn’t as easy as it sounds. You have to choose someone who is knowledgeable and knows the work really well, which is no less than a challenge.
Here are some amazing tips to help you get most out of your demolition contractor and have a smooth home improvement project ahead –
- Plan it Well
Before you head out to hire a demolition contractor, you have to first ensure that all the work you want to get done is planned out carefully. Whether it is a straightforward demolition or remodeling a part of your house, you have to be clear with your vision.
Is it stripping the interiors? Is it redesigning the whole space? Is it only about re-painting the walls? Are you planning to install new things? All these questions should strike your mind first before you even decide to hire someone. Always remember that no two remodeling projects are the same. The kind of remodeling you would go for will decide what kind of contractor will be best for you.
Also, you should have access to all the essential information like what is the size of the house, what are the materials used in it, how thick is the foundation, will the demolishment affect the nearby surroundings, etc.
- Get Recommendations
Word of mouth is the best way to find a qualified demolition contractor in your city. Nothing can beat the prominence of this form of publicity as it solely rests on an individual’s personal experience with the contractor.
So, start your search by asking reliable people around you who have had the similar work done. Speak to your friends, family, relatives for any recommendation they might have. Ask what their experience with the prospective contractor was and what made them give good feedback for him.
There are greater chances of meeting the right demolition contractor quickly through your social circle.
- Search Online
For the people who don’t wish to rely on recommendations given by their relatives, they should start searching for local demolition contractors operating in their locality. In the present scenario, there would be hardly any contractor or a company involved in the demolition process which is not listed online or doesn’t have an established online presence.
Checking out the contractors’ website, the feedback and ratings given by their past clients is a great way to judge the quality level of their services. A contractor having plenty of negative reviews should be dropped off from your list immediately.
- Look for Specialization
Demolition of a building or a part of it comes with its own set of complications. There are unknown surprises behind the wall, dangerous electrical wiring systems that need to be handled with care.
If you are planning a home remodeling, then you need to find a contractor that has specialization in residential demolition. So, call the local demolition contractors and ask about their expertise. The contractors carrying a similar level of specialty as required by you should stay on your list and the ones that don’t match your criteria should be ignored.
- Verify Credentials and Licenses
Nothing is as worse than hiring a contractor who is not licensed by the state authorities. A license is a mandated requirement for every contractor to be able to work in the community and keep it updated as well to continue with business operations.
The certifications indicate that the contractor belongs to a certain organization and abides by its strict rules and ethics and is hence more reliable than any other non-certified contractor in the city. So, never be afraid of asking the contractors for their license numbers and the types of certifications they hold. A contractor denying or hesitating to show you the license number is surely a red flag.
Also, stay away from the contractors that don’t have insurance or else you will land up with huge liability in case any team member or a person walking by your home gets injured during the course of the project.
- Be Clear with Your Requirements
As a homeowner, it is your job to have complete clarity as to what kind of job you want to get done. Also, it is a duty job to specify the same to the contractor in as much detailed manner as possible.
Some renowned demolition contractors often ask their clients to send pictures of the site and then discuss what exactly needs to be done. If your shortlisted contractors don’t ask so, you can yourself ask them if you can send pictures or if they are comfortable in visiting your premises personally.
- Compare Pricing
When you are done narrowing down your options to 2-3 potential contractors, you should ask them to share the overall cost of the job along the time duration required to complete it.
It is always recommended to get bids from multiple contractors to be able to select the most feasible one. But make sure, you don’t only hanker for the lowest bids and rather pay due respect for the experience and skill of the contractors as well.
Demolition is followed by huge heaps of useless concrete and damaged building materials, so make sure your contractor helps you in disposing it of systematically.
- Get Everything in Writing
As a smart customer, always make sure you get all the discussed terms and conditions laid down in a written contract. Have a thorough reading of the documents prepared by your contractor and only after carefully scrutinizing, take it further.
Don’t just rest assured on verbal commitments or you may regret it if any ambiguity arises in the future.
