|
TIPS
ON HIRING A CONTRACTOR
1.
Get fully prepared on your side first.
- Decide
for yourself what exactly it is that you need done.
- Communication
is the key for a good relationship with the contractor
you choose.
- Contractors
love sketches, pictures, layouts, written summaries, computer
aided visuals, or anything that you can give them that
will make the job easier for them to visualize.
- Decide
what type of contractor is best suited to perform your
job.
2.
Begin making your calls or sending e-mails to set up appointments
with prospective contractors.
- First
impressions are extremely important on both sides.
- Make
sure that you are home on time for the meeting.
- Make
note that the contractor is on time as well.
- Try
to avoid 'drop off bids' its important to meet the contractor
face to face.
- Articulately
communicate to the contractor exactly what it is that
you want done. Show him any paperwork and visuals you've
accumulated.
3.
Asking good questions during the meeting is extremely important.
- Has
he done a job like yours in the past?
- Is
he confident on how long the job will take? (Watch out
for the ones that give a wide time frame such as 4-8 weeks,
this usually means they don't know long it will take and
should be considered as a red flag.)
- Is
he confident on how much the materials cost is going to
be? (Watch out for contractors who are afraid to commit
to a solid materials cost, this might be a hint of their
inexperience in the work you've requested.)
- Ask
him how add-ons will be handled if the situation occurs?
- What
is their policy on daily clean-up and removal of waste
from your property?
- Ask
him specifically- who will be performing the work?
- Is
he an owner-operator? (meaning that he is the one that
will be on the job leading the crew.)
- Is
he just a salesman? (meaning he doesn't do any of the
physical work other than collecting the check when the
job is done.)
- Is
he a general contractor? (meaning he takes a percentage
and 'sub-contracts' the job to a different company whom
you've never met or interviewed.)
- Ask
questions about the warranty- what does it cover and most
importantly what items are excluded.
4.
What paperwork does the contractor leave you with? Items
should include the following:
- A
written proposal stating specifically what all work is
included and how it will be performed, how much the LABOR
cost will be as well as the MATERIAL cost, also make sure
that TAXES are included in those price quotes.
- Any
major project should have a blue print and a floor plan
or sketches detailing what the finished job will look
like.
- Who
will be responsible for getting required permits.
- An
estimated start time and completion date.
- A
list of his previous customer references.
- A
Written Warranty.
- A
copy of his liability insurance, contractors license,
and workman's compensation policy.
- Specifications
on the materials that will be used on the job.
5.
You should accumulate at least three to six estimates from
different companies.
- Spend
some time to review all the estimates and paperwork. (Spread
out each company’s presentation on your kitchen table.)
- Call
ALL the references the contractor provided you with. (Make
notes and comments next to each name.)
- Check
all expiration dates on licenses and insurance policies.
- Call
the contractors to see how easy they are to get a hold
of. (Tell him you are still in the process of reviewing
all the estimates.)
6.
Ask yourself these following questions:
- Who
seemed to be the most professional and knowledgeable?
- Who
did you feel most at ease with during their presentation?
- Which
one had the best referral given from a previous client?
- Who
had the cheapest price, which had the highest?
- What
is the major difference between these two bids? (Make
sure you are comparing apples to apples.)
- Which
one is the easiest to get a hold of and has a courteous
answer to all your questions?
7.
Making your final decision.
- Narrow
the field down by the process of elimination.
- Exclude
any contractor who didn't have the proper paperwork or
credentials.
- Exclude
any contractor who got a derogatory remark from one of
their references.
- Exclude
any contractors who failed to return your phone calls.
- Do
not make your decision on price alone.
- Choose
the contractor that inspired the most confidence and trust
in you.
|
