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Our Guide to Selecting the Right Contractor
Selecting a remodeler isn't easy. There
are many things to consider. Here are some things that you
should think about.
The Importance of Selecting the Right Contractor
- Not all contractors are alike: some are highly
qualified professionals, some are not. Some are specialists
and some are generalists. What's best for your project?
- Carefully selecting a contractor now can save you time, money, and trouble. Asking the right questions now can prevent unpleasant surprises in the future.
- Your contractor will be in your home every workday from early morning until the late afternoon for an extended length of time. It is important that you trust and feel comfortable with them.
- You will probably want a Design/Build remodeler or an architect and builder who can reflect your sense of style.
- Remodeling your home is an investment. You want to make sure it is done right. Selecting the right remodeler is your most important decision.
Things You Should Consider
- What type of work will you want done? (Addition? Kitchen? Bath? Home theater? Multi-room project? Whole house renovation?)
- Are you looking for more space or something distinctive and/or especially functional?
- Are you interested in Green Building?
- Do you want a separate architect and builder, or do you want to use the Design/Build approach, where the remodeler provides both the architectural design and construction?
- How much do you want to invest in your home?
- Do you want to be able to live in your home during construction or not?
- How long will you live in your home and enjoy
the project? Or is the project mostly to improve your home's
resale value?
- Do you need to have the work done by a particular time, or can you be flexible?
Define What's Important to You
- Determine what you need from your project,
what you want to have but isn't essential, and what would
be nice to have but that you could live without if it exceeds
your budget.
- How important is quality versus price versus value to you?
- What level of involvement do you want in
the project? Some remodelers want you highly involved, some
barely involved except to approve design.
Visit Remodelers' Websites
- No website? What does that tell you about how they view your needs and run their business?
- Get a feel for what type of company they are and if they are the type of company you want to trust in your home.
- Does the overall site reflect a sense of design, quality, and commitment to client service and satisfaction?
- Look through the photo gallery and see if
their work reflects a diversity of styles. Are they capable
of adapting their work to meet their clients' preferences?
- Do they clearly state the services they offer, warranty information, licensing, insurance, and bonding? Do they mention their qualifications, years in business, membership in any trade organizations, or certifications?
- Is there anything they offer that is different from or better/worse than other remodelers?
The Initial Phone Call
- Call the companies that you feel are the best match.
- Let them know what sort of project you are thinking about and your budget range.
- If someone must call you back, do they return your call promptly?
- Ask the remodeler questions to determine general compatibility with what you are looking for.
Meeting with a Contractor
- Ask more questions at the meeting. Decide beforehand what you want to ask.
- When contractors visit your home, do they arrive on time? Do they have a neat and professional appearance?
- Pay attention to the contractor's communication
style. Do they listen well? Do they ask good questions about
the project? Or do they mostly want to talk about themselves
and how they do things?
- Can you see photos or examples of their work? (They may be available on the website.)
- Is the presentation by the remodeler professional? Do they address your questions and concerns well? Are the photographs clear?
- Do they have recent references?
- Do they have references from homeowners for whom they worked 5-10 years ago?
- Make sure you check references. Ask questions
beyond, "Are you happy with the work?" or "Would
you use this remodeler again?" Ask about the remodeling
process: "How was it working with the remodeler?" Ask
questions only they as homeowners can address.
Things You Will Want to Learn Before Making a Decision
- Do they provide design/build services, construction only, or both?
- What types of projects do they specialize in? (Type, quality, price range, etc.) Do they do the kind of work you are looking to have done?
- Do they have a specialty?
- How many projects like yours have they done?
- How long have they been in business?
- How long has the owner been in the industry and in what capacities? What about their staff and subcontractors?
- Are they and their subcontractors licensed, bonded, and fully insured?
- Do they and their subcontractors carry workers compensation insurance for all workers?
Design
- How is the architectural design handled? Is it done in-house or contracted out?
- What are the qualifications of their designer/architect?
- Is the design fee a fixed price, a percent of the project, or hourly?
- How will they present their design ideas? Do they use Computer Aided Design and provide you with detailed computer generated renderings?
- How do they assure that what they design can be built within your budget?
- How many revisions are permitted during the design phase before you incur more costs?
- Do they deliver exactly what you ask for, or do they add value by making well thought out recommendations?
- Do they view the design process as a way to provide you with what you already have in mind, or a way to solve your problems and achieve your goals?
- Do you like the designs, aesthetics, and
functionality of the work they've done?
Construction
- If they use allowances to develop the construction
contract price, do they base the allowances on low, medium,
high, premium, or super-premium quality products and materials?
Are these quality selections in line with what you are looking
for?
- Do they provide full turnkey services? If so, what does that include? What would your responsibilities be?
- How do they handle change orders?
- How do they help you with product, color, materials, and other selections? Do they help at all?
- Who handles variance issues, permits, licenses, and government and environmental approvals and inspections?
- Is there one person who will be responsible for your job from start to finish and through the warranty period? Who is this person and what are their qualifications?
- In what specific ways do they stand behind their work?
Certifications and Associations
- Do they belong to industry organizations such as:
- National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI)
- The Better Business Bureau
- Build it Green
- The National Federation of Independent Businesses
- Do they have appropriate certifications, such as:
- Certified Remodeler (CR)
- Certified Kitchen and Bath Remodeler (CKBR)
- Certified Green Builder
- What are the qualifications of the architects/designers? Are they licensed? Are they AIA members?
- What is the experience of and certifications held by their construction team?
- Are they licensed, bonded and fully insured in your area? What are the insurance limits? What about their subcontractors? Will they provide you documentation of the licenses and coverage?
- How specifically does their insurance protect you, the homeowner? Do you need any special homeowner coverage?
The Role of Chemistry
- Decide if you feel you can trust them in your home. Do you feel comfortable and confident in them?
- Do the contractors appear to be knowledgeable?
Are you confident in their expertise?
- What is their philosophy about what they do?
- Can they describe the process they use for
a smooth, successful project?
- Do you feel comfortable communicating with your contractor?
- Do you feel the remodeler really understands what you want from the project and from them?
For more information about how we can help you with your project
please contact us today.
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