PREPERATION:
Even before calling around to get estimates, you should try to make as
many decisions about what you want done as possible. Cut out pictures in
magazines, take pictures of similar projects you have seen, you can even go
online and download pictures from many types of sites. If you have the
budget, you can hire a professional designer. The main reason for this is to
prepare to communicate what you want to several competing contractors.
Most contractors will have some ideas of their own to help enhance
your ideas. Although this can be helpful, once you have met with the first
contractor and he leaves to do an estimate, if the next guy has different ideas
that you like, then you have to contact the first contractor to change what he
is estimating. This can be a frustrating cycle for everyone.
If possible, be willing to pay someone to draw up what you want and
list some specifications. It will save some confusion later and many
Homeowner�s associations require some type of approval drawing anyway.
Try to get some idea of the cost. If the first estimate you see causes
your chin to hit the floor, you have probably caused someone to do a lot of
estimating for nothing. You should be able to get some rough square foot
pricing from a contractor in advance, but expect to pay more, it always is.
Look into financing if necessary beforehand. It will save time later.
FINDING CONTRACTORS:
Obviously, getting a contractor referral from someone you know is the
easiest way to find a contractor. Don�t always blindly trust their judgment
though, many people are not as particular as you might be. There are many
other places to find contractors: the phone book, classified ads, flyers, etc.
There are many advantages to hiring local people. They should know
the local building codes. They should have some local references. It should
be easier to get them to follow up on warranty work if necessary.
QUALIFYING CONTRACTORS:
You may want to do this even before discussing your project with a
contractor. Surprisingly, there are a lot of contractors that have no insurance
or license of any kind. While these may be cheaper, that is not always the
case. �You get what you pay for� is not always true. Regardless of pricing,
there are some things they should have:
A business license is a good indicator of stability. Although there are
no qualifications necessary to get one in many places, it still shows
some legitimacy, as well as being required in obtaining building
permits should that be necessary.
General Liability insurance protects the contractor if he creates a
liability through his action or inaction and as an option covers his
work even after he is gone. The only reason for a contractor not to
have this is if he has nothing to lose. That should throw up a red flag.
Always get a copy of the policy and verify that is in effect before
allowing a contractor to start work. You can verify it over the phone
with his insurance carrier, or get them to fax you proof. A reputable
contractor should expect this.
Workers Compensation insurance is not required by law unless an
employer has more than a certain number of employees. In the
construction industry, many companies have no employees, just
subcontractors. Therefore they are not required to carry it. Many
contractors require their subcontractors to carry it but do not have it
themselves. It is extremely expensive to cover the owner of a
company so many contractors may have a policy but are not covered
themselves. In many cases, a contractor�s personal health insurance
will cover medical expenses if there is no other coverage.
Homeowner�s insurance may cover some claims. Find out first.
References are extremely important to a contractor. He is selling a
product or service that cannot be inspected before purchase. Always
check some of these thoroughly.
Supplier accounts in good standing are necessary for a business to
thrive. If you are asked to pay the supplier directly, or pay a
substantial portion upfront, there is probably a problem with the
contractor�s cash flow. This is a bad sign. On the other hand, it is not
unreasonable for a contractor to ask for a draw when materials are
delivered to the jobsite.
Experience is critical to getting the best quality. Many things can
come up during a project, many of them can be planned for and
should be. Only through experience can problems be anticipated and
avoided. Experience is also critical in knowing what materials are
right for your application.