Congratulations!
You have decided to improve your home; let us give you some pro tips as your home advisor before you begin. There are many areas to consider when you are looking to find the ideal contractor to succeed with your home improvement project. Your design ideas, your budget, your materials, and the right general contractor to coordinate all are important factors when working on home improvement.
Tip 1: Pick The Right Kind of Contractor
Before hiring any kind of contractor, look at our definition cheat sheet of types of contractors.
- General Contractor– This person is in charge of the day-to-day oversight of all work to do with a home improvement project; this includes coordinating construction site work, obtaining building permits or licenses, managing all vendors and products, and functioning as the chief point of communication for the project.
- Independent Contractor (Specialty Contractor)– This person is a single person or business entity that provides goods or services. The general contractor may seek work from an independent contractor with a specific skill set needed, like electrical contractors for kitchen remodeling.
- Designer – This person aids you in the color palette and design of your dream house renovation. They bring your imagination to life.
- Architect– This person designs any structural parts in the construction plans, especially if extensions are added.
Contact Us for a FREE Estimate
Tip 2: Research Your Options For Your Dream House
You will want to know the credentials and work experience of any contractor you are looking at hiring. Reviews will help you to investigate the ideal contractor for you:
- Online Referrals- Yelp Reviews, Houzz Reviews, Home Advisor Reviews, and Google Reviews are helpful as mostly they are independent reviews on how badly or well a project went and when that project was being dealt with.
- Word of Mouth Referrals- Your friends, family, and coworkers can offer some advice and speak to their past experiences with home improvement. It is important to listen to the information you are being offered; if you are looking to remodel your kitchen, and your neighbor had a good experience with their contractor for kitchen remodels, you should at least research what may be a viable option
- Business Associations to Consider- Since the rise of the internet, is easier than ever to research the reputation of contractors. Certain associations require certain licenses and level of business to belong. Take a look at these business associations for guidance:
- General protection is outlined in the Federal Trade Commission that monitors consumer protection.
- Better Business Bureau facilitates relationships between consumers and businesses to instill confidence.
- National Association of Home Builders protects housing opportunities while it’s members build 80% of new homes in the United States.
- National Association of Remodeling Industry protects the American dream home improvement for all.
- Contractors need a license? It is always good to check any qualifications presented to you. Check with local building department or consumer protection agency on specifics for your geographical area for companies to be licensed and bonded.
- How long has the company been in business? Longevity is not always directly proportional to have great a company is at what they do, but time can reveal a pattern of bad work. Take a look at the history of a company to see the full story.
Tip 3: Ask Questions About Home Improvement
This is your home improvement show, you find out the answers you need. Take a look at our top 4 questions to find the right contractor for you:
- How many projects have you completed like mine?
If you are intending to remodel your bathroom, you will want to have a contractor that routinely remodels bathrooms. - Will my project require a building permit?
If you are using an architect, you may be making major structural changes that could require a local building permit. See the specific guidelines through your local building department. - Do you have insurance?
A basic question, but you need to know if the contractor is insured for the kind of work you have discussed. Often roofing has a specific insurance and set of guidelines for safety; any other additional kind of insurance like worker’s insurance, or any theft (from the worksite) insurance is also good to know about. - Are you planning to use subcontractors for the discussed project?
Often a project entails many different design elements, and specific artisans or skill sets must be sourced. Knowing the plan upfront about any potential subcontractors will help you keep up to date. - Get estimates for all of your potential contractors you are looking at.
Don’t necessarily discount the highest or the lowest quote; ask your contractor how they got to that number and why the quote is higher or lower. Chances are, there is a researched reason how they calculated your quote.
You Can Have It All: Your Home Improvement Show
Although the process may look a lot less complicated on a home improvement show, there key is open communication and comfortability between you and your contractor. Research companies that can handle all kind of home remodeling through their website; this should show pictures of recent work. Your home improvement cast should include the specific contractors you need so you feel in control, on schedule, and on budget.