What You Need To Know Before Hiring A Contractor
You’ve been dreaming and saving for a while now and you’re almost ready to take the next step…hiring a contractor to renovate your home. Before you start shopping around for a renovations company, consider these simple 6 guidelines. It will save you time and money down the road.
Develop a clear idea of your renovation goals and budget
Before you start looking for the right professional to help you renovate your home, clarify what it is you hope to accomplish with the project, how the renovation should look, and what your preliminary budget is. Are you dreaming of a serene spa bathroom, or a luxurious gourmet kitchen? Many contractors have special areas of expertise. This will help you to find the right professional that can deliver on your goals.
Get a recommendation
It’s always easy to ask family, friends, or neighbours for recommendations about who renovated their homes. But, if you’re investing a significant amount into the project (usually $10,000.00 or more) you’ll want to make sure their recommendations are credible by talking with local vendors and reading reviews. Reviews are extremely important as they give you feedback from previous customers. Check the contractor’s Google, Houzz and Facebook reviews to get a sense of their professionalism and quality of work. Also, remember that potential contractors quoting the lowest prices are probably too good to be true. Choosing a company solely on cost might not be the best value for your money as they may cut corners on workmanship or use unqualified subcontractors.
Create a shortlist
Although it might take a bit of extra time, interview at least a couple prospective companies. Based on their consultations, price and credentials, make a shortlist of your favourites.
Ask for references
Once you’ve narrowed down your search to the best contractors ask them to provide references for their last 5 jobs including a description of what they did, the dates they started and completed those jobs and how you can get in touch with the homeowners.
Make sure they have insurance and WCB
Protect yourself by only hiring people who have a current certificate of insurance and Workers Compensation, or by making sure you have enough liability coverage in your homeowner’s policy in case an uninsured person is injured on your property.
Read and understand all contracts
Before you sign on the dotted line and the contractor kicks off your renovation, make sure you’ve read and fully understand the contract agreement. Some contractors may require a deposit before starting but it should not be a big chunk of money. Work with your contractor to come up with a reasonable timeline and payment schedule. The contractor should be paid as work is completed.