Finding the right contractor to work with is critical to the success of the project you are planning. Whether a small bathroom remodel, an addition to your home, or building a whole new house, who works with you to make your vision come to fruition is likely the #1 influence on the success of the project. Pick the wrong contractor, and you can end up with poor workmanship, work delays, and even lawsuits. You also end up stressed out and miserable throughout the whole thing, which should (and could) be an enjoyable experience. Let's look at some of the essential factors that go into finding the right contractor.
You need to find someone with the technical expertise and professional experience you require to complete the work, and you want to work with someone with whom you feel comfortable discussing your expectations, needs and concerns.
The ability to build a working relationship and to communicate effectively with your contractor is just as essential as selecting someone with the technical ability to get the work done. Be on the lookout throughout your initial discussions with contractors for cues that you are being listened to, and that your questions are being answered thoughtfully and thoroughly. A contractor should be taking the lead from you as you describe the work you want done. Their answers and suggestions should reflect your specific description of the project. While you can expect professional opinions and advice, you should not feel rushed or pushed into any particular decision.
You need to listen to your instincts about whether you feel you can work with this person effectively. Personality fit is important. Even small jobs can be fraught with complications and require many judgment calls and decisions. You want to work with someone who is approachable, flexible, and can be entrusted to make decisions on your project that reflect what you want.
Before you grab your phone, take some time to carefully prepare and plan for your project. What is your success image for the project? What are your reasons for doing it (motivation)? What are your objectives? How will the areas be used? How is that different from how they are used now? How do you see the room(s) looking when they are complete? Even the best contractor is limited by how clearly you can express these expectations and success images. They might be good, but they're not mind readers!
Now you are ready to go about finding the right people to do the work. Looking for skilled craftspeople is always the first hurdle. There are several approaches, each taking time and energy in different ways. If possible, begin with "qualified referrals" such as recommendations from friends and family, neighbors, other contractors, and suppliers and vendors. Most specialty retailers and professionals in the industry can also recommend people. Someone who is familiar with a contractor's work and can speak with you candidly about his or her experience with that person can be a considerable advantage.
Searching cold on the Internet is always an option, but best to be left as a last resort because it can lead to a lot of dead ends and down time waiting for call backs. It's a shot in the dark, so be sure to follow the rest of the recommendations in this article before committing to someone you have no information about.
Once you have identified likely prospects via telephone conversations, you are ready to meet with them to discuss your needs further. This may take the form of an actual estimate meeting or a preliminary consultation. Some specialty contractors and tradespeople charge for their time for these meetings, and some credit the cost back to you if you contract them for the work. If you are seeking expert advice and guidance with your project, plan to do some of it yourself, or have very unique aspects of your project, you should expect to compensate professionals for their time.
The process of selecting a contractor or tradesperson is similar to hiring any other kind of employee. You will want to be prepared with questions that will draw out the individual's strengths and weaknesses, encourage a description of their experience, and clue you into the style and personality of the person with whom you may be working. Your questions and discussion should also cover important professional and business qualifications.
A qualified contractor should be able to speak with technical expertise, describing different methods and options to you clearly. If you are offered several options for how to tackle your project, ask for clear descriptions of how the options differ, and the pros and cons of each.
Ask to review their portfolio of proven past experience in projects that compare to yours. They should have pictures of examples of their work on their website or phone.
Get (and Talk To) References
Ask for 2-3 professional and/or customer references. Especially if you are unfamiliar with a contractor and their work, ask for several customer references that you may contact. Take the time to make those calls and prepare some questions. You probably want to know if their project was completed on time and on budget, what the people were like to work with, did they do what they said they were going to do, and would they hire them again? This step is often skipped - it can be awkward to ask for references, and who has the time to make these calls and chase people down - BUT avoiding this step can lead to much more costly and time-consuming issues down the line. Any professional should be confident enough in their work to share references with you. It's well worth it in the end!
Select someone who will put your project first and be able to commit to the timetable you desire. There is nothing worse than having someone fail to show up when expected, or lining up other trades that are dependent on certain completion dates only to have someone come and go sporadically throughout your project. Speak very frankly and clearly about the timeline you are working with and your expectations for the schedule.
Choose an insured professional running a legitimate business. All the contractors you hire should carry appropriate insurances such as liability and workers' compensation, protecting their workers and your family. You want to be sure that you are not held responsible for any accidents or mishaps. If they are not insured and something happens, you will be held liable.
Pay attention to how seriously the contractors take their business, how they present themselves professionally, and the materials they use to represent themselves. Those who present necessary business credentials obviously take their business and work seriously, and care about what they are doing.
Be sure you are clear on what guarantees are provided and if there are any restrictions involved with the work or products being used. State contract law dictates guarantees on work to some degree, but there are always exceptions. Some contractors are committed to certain product lines, and this may or may not fit your project. Many products have certain warrantees, and certain conditions under which they apply.
Always ask up front what kind of payment schedule is expected. This is an important variable if you are comparing estimates so you can be sure you are comparing like offerings. Most contractors ask for a downpayment to start a project. This money often covers the cost of materials and gives the contractor a good-faith effort on your part that you will pay them timely. Don't pay more than 50% of a project estimate up front, and NEVER pay for a project in full before it's totally complete.
From a legal standpoint, of course you should get everything in writing. Details pertaining to the scope of work, materials and labor costs, timetable and payment schedule should all be in writing to protect both parties. Sometimes the written estimate can serve as an agreement. Having things in writing in front of you helps ensure everyone has the same plan in mind. A written contract is important because it minimizes miscommunication, sets expectations, and protects you from unexpected costs and legal consequences.
There really is no cookie-cutter approach to home projects - each will be unique and unpredictable in many regards. A good contractor must have technical expertise, a problem-solving disposition, and a flexible attitude in order to carry out a project and be enjoyable to work with. Anyone who has experienced having a contractor go MIA, fail to live up to their expectations, or left with no recourse when things go badly will testify that these recommendations are important and well worth the time and effort!
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Noelle has been a marketing professional, and a published author and copywriter for over 20 years. Her work has been featured in both print publications and online media, where she has written on a broad range of topics. She owns Castle Media Co., assisting businesses with their marketing and digital media needs, specializing in website development, content marketing, social media, copywriting, and blogging.
