If you’re planning to renovate your home, you know that it’s not just a home — it’s also your security and financial future. You want the best for your house, but you don’t want to risk ruining it or taking on more than you can handle. Luckily, there are solutions: Redesigning your house with the right renovation contractor is one of them.
With the right skills and experience in design, carpentry, masonry, electrical work, and more, an expert interior and exterior remodeling contractor will take care of any home repair project and leave you satisfied every step of the way. Here’s how to find one (and maybe even avoid hiring the ones who aren’t).
Contact multiple renovation contractors and see who responds best
If you’re planning a big project, like remodeling your kitchen or adding a new room to your house, it can be difficult to find the right contractor. If you want to save yourself time, money, and heartache, talk to multiple contractors before deciding on one.
Start by searching online for “home remodeling contractors in your area.” You may also use your local building department or county extension office as resources. From there, contact two or three of the top renovation contractors in your area. Set up meetings with them where they make themselves available to meet with you and answer any questions you have about their work — look at samples of their work, ask when they plan on taking on new projects and how much they charge for their work.
This is an important step because it helps ensure that you’re working with a company that has the skills to handle all of your needs — not just some of them (for example: if someone offers great services for electrical work but doesn’t do carpentry or masonry work then they might not be able to handle the project).
Ask for references
A renovation contractor’s reputation is critical, so don’t hire a contractor without getting references. Ask for references from friends and family who have hired contractors before, as well as previous customers. You can also ask for recommendations from your local newspaper or the Better Business Bureau.
Check online reviews and ask for feedback from friends and family
If you’re not sure who to call, it might be worth checking online reviews and asking friends and family for feedback. If you do see a contractor online that does what you need, go ahead and contact them for a quote. You can also ask for feedback from other contractors on the company’s work that you have in mind.
A good way to find a contractor is to check with your home improvement retailer. They likely have an in-house team of contractors they can recommend, or they could put a call out to their network of reputable contractors.
Ask your neighbors who they think is good
Before you start looking for renovation contractors, ask your neighbors who they’ve used in the past. If a contractor has worked with people your sister-in-law knows, or if it’s someone she trusts and would recommend, that means he or she has good skills and experience. It also means that they know what they’re doing. They won’t be beginners and will have had years of experience working with other homeowners.
You can also ask friends who they think is trustworthy and professional. However, these recommendations might not include people who are close to you by distance, so it might be hard to get the referrals you need without going outside your social circle.
Get an estimate from a few different contractors
No one is going to know your house better than you, so it’s important that you take the time to do an accurate estimate of your project before you hire anyone. These estimates will come in handy if the renovation process gets too big for you or if you need to change anything midstream.
You should also find out what the contractor does and doesn’t do, as well as how long certain jobs typically take. Once you have a good idea of what he does, ask about his references; talk to other people who have hired him and see if they recommend him. You might even be able to ask for a list of his past clients from LinkedIn. If there are any red flags with any of those things, don’t hire him.
Find out about the warranty and insurance protection offered by your contractor
If you’re considering hiring a contractor, you should look for one that offers:
a warranty on the work that is performed
insurance protection on home repairs and/or remodeling
You should also consider finding a contractor who also has certifications from important organizations.
For your peace of mind, ask the contractor to provide these types of guarantees with their contract.
Conclusion
Choosing the right contractor can be a daunting task. You need to make sure that you hire a contractor that has the experience and can provide you with a warranty. Make sure to ask the contractor about any hidden fees or charges that they may have, like if they charge for travel time and materials.
It’s important to take your time when choosing the right contractor so you don’t end up with a project that costs more than it should.
