Hiring Remodelers
Remodeling contractors vary widely in both their ability to understand your vision and to transform it into a completed project that delivers exactly what you want. Remember, on a big project, you could be working with your contractor for several months, so making the right decision is very important. Here’s how to go about it:
Ask around.
Seek referrals from friends, family, neighbors, co-workers, and others who have had remodeling work done. Talk to independent trade contractors, building materials suppliers, architects, engineers, home inspectors, and local lenders. Contact trade associations such as your area's local Remodelers™ Council. For additional remodeling reference information, please refer to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry
Double-check.
Once you’ve identified some strong candidates, do even more checking to ensure these are the kinds of remodelers with whom you’d like to do business. Call your local or state consumer protection agency and the Better Business Bureau to find out if there are any unresolved complaints filed against the remodeler. You should also contact your state's contractor licensing agency and state and local building inspectors to verify the remodeler has the appropriate license(s) and a clean record. Interview previous or present customers. An essential step in your decision-making process is to check a remodeler's references. Ask for the names and phone numbers of current and former customers; then take the time to interview them (preferably in their homes so you can take a look at the remodeler's work).
Get estimates.
Ask for a written estimate of the work to be done based on a set of plans and specifications. This is a time-consuming process for the contractor, so you should be prepared to pay for this package. Make sure you're comparing apples to apples. Estimates from different remodelers need to be based on identical project specifications.
Seek the right fit.
Remodeling is a very personal process. The remodeler you hire will be part of your home life for several weeks or months, so it's important to make sure your personalities mesh. If, for example, you want to know every detail as the project progresses, you probably won't be happy with a remodeler given to one-word answers. The bottom line is: do you feel comfortable with this individual? A strong rapport and close communication with your remodeler will help make any job go well.
Sign a contract.
Once you've picked a remodeler, no work should begin until you have reviewed and signed a written agreement or contract that spells out in detail the what, where, how, time span and cost of your project.
