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Hiring A Contractor - Part 2...

Once you have an idea of what you want to do and how much it will cost, it's time to start talking to contractors. Referrals are extremely important. Talk to your neighbors and friends. Most likely you will find someone capable of taking on your project in a responsible manner as a referral from someone you know. Make sure your contractor has a valid license. If a contractor's license has expired, you have no recourse if things go bad. Also, a contractor with a valid license has proven that he is qualified in his trade and knows the difference between cutting corners and doing a job properly. You will also need to find out who the sub contractors will be, and if they have their current licenses. Typically your remodeling contract will be structured so that if a sub contractor makes a mistake, the main contractor will be responsible. You need to make sure this is in writing though. It is a good idea to find out in advance how your contractor would handle a "worst case" scenario.

Get several quotes for your projects. You will find a wide range in prices, so it is important to know why different contractors charge different amounts. If the contractor is purchasing the materials for you, you need to know if he is marking up the cost and if it is worth it to you to pay his mark up or just get the materials on your own. A good contractor will inform you of several project and material options that will fit into your overall budget.

Get a timeline from your contractor for the different phases of your project. Find out how long demolition will last. Find out if you need to vacate your home during demolition. Find out who will be handling the disposal of waste materials. You might conclude that living in your home during certain phases of your project is not an option. If this is the case you'll need to allocate money toward alternate accomodations. IE) a hotel or rental property. A good rule of thumb is to add 50% padding time to the overall timeline. Realistically, there will be times when your contractor can't work, a vendor hasn't delivered the material, or a sub contractor doesn't show up, etc. If you expect that a job could take 50% more time than quoted to you, you won't be unpleasantly surprised if this becomes a reality.

As you can see, planning a home remodeling job in advance will help you out when the ball is rolling.

Hiring a contractor -- Part 1