Renovating your home (especially while you’re living in it) is a big undertaking, and it’s not something you want to handle on your own. However, it’s also not something that you want to put in the wrong contractor’s hands.
Ideally, you want a contractor working in your home who you trust, like the roofing contractors at Advantage Construction, — not only to get the job done right and charge you a reasonable amount but also to take care of your home and make you feel comfortable while they do the work.
Whether you’re redoing the bathroom, adding a new room, or putting on a new roof, these are the six steps you should take to ensure you end up with the right home contractor for the job.
1. Look for Training and Certification
Before an official interview or consultation with any contractor, you should first find proof of training and licensure. For example, they might be able to show that they used Contractor Training Center before successfully receiving their state contractor’s license, which should also be available to you.
If you can’t find hard evidence licensing and training to perform contracting duties in your state of residence, pass on them.
2. Ask Loved Ones or Neighbors for Recommendations
A great way to find trustworthy contractors is by first asking your friends, family, or neighbors for recommendations of contractors they’ve used in the past. Neighbors can be great resources, especially as you can see firsthand the construction results.
3. Schedule Multiple Interviews
You never want to put all your eggs in one basket, and that saying remains true when it comes to scouting contractors. Even if you find one contractor you think is a good fit, they might not impress you as much when you meet them. Schedule anywhere from 3-5 interviews to see who can really “wow” you on-site.
4. Check References and Online Reviews
While a neighbor who had a great experience with a contractor is great information to have, that’s only anecdotal. You can get a better idea of how other people enjoyed working with different contractors by checking out online reviews and other references they may be able to offer. Trustpilot is a great place to find reliable reviews from real customers and a good starting place.
5. Ask for Bids
Yes, you want to ask all of the potential contractors for an estimate. But you also want more than that before you sign on the dotted line. Once you’ve found a couple of contractors you might want to work with, ask them to submit bids for the work.
Bidsaren’t the same thing as estimates. While estimates are all about the estimated cost, a bid is a commitment to doing a particular scope of work at a set price. If you, as the client, accept a bid, the expectation is for the contractor to honor that commitment.
The bid process gives you more control, allowing you to compare your options and see where offers differ.
6. Eliminate the Lowest Bid
A good best practice to follow is immediately eliminating the lowest bid. While it’s great to save money here and there, you should consider that this is your home, and the quality should be as important as value.
Then, from what you have left, you can select the best bid from your potential contractors and feel good knowing you’ve made the right pick.
A Job Well Done
Going through this multi-step process to find a contractor might seem tedious. However, it’s worth the hassle for a job well done in your home. You’ll feel comfortable knowing the person working inside your home offers the best deal for the quality you expect, and you’ll rest easy knowing your contractor is skilled and capable.
