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How to Hire a Contractor
Follow these 8 steps to find the right contractor for you and your project
Do your due diligence before hiring your contractor. Price should not be the only factor when making the final decision on who will build your dream home. Your home is where you spend most of your time, and you don’t want poor-quality construction details staring you in the face, day after day. Make sure you take the proper steps before choosing a contractor.
2. Provide a List of Specifications Ahead of Time
When it comes to your finishes, fixtures, appliances and accessories, this is your bible. The price to renovate even a small bathroom can vary by tens of thousands of dollars depending on its fittings and finishes. If you can choose your plumbing fixtures, finishes and accessories ahead of time, you will save yourself and your contractor a lot of grief during the construction process by having the items on hand when he needs them and by knowing all the associated costs to install your specified items.
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When it comes to your finishes, fixtures, appliances and accessories, this is your bible. The price to renovate even a small bathroom can vary by tens of thousands of dollars depending on its fittings and finishes. If you can choose your plumbing fixtures, finishes and accessories ahead of time, you will save yourself and your contractor a lot of grief during the construction process by having the items on hand when he needs them and by knowing all the associated costs to install your specified items.
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3. Price Out Your Project
If you have been working with a designer or architect and you have a complete set of drawings and complete specifications, ask that professional to recommend a few builders to whom you can send your plans for pricing. Also, ask your friends whether they have a contractor they have been happy with and send them your construction package to bid on as well.
If you have the detailed set of plans and the specs that I mentioned previously, you will get “apples to apples” pricing from the contractors bidding on the job. And the contractors will have to stick to their provided pricing because they had all the information in their hands.
Your Guide to a Smooth-Running Construction Project
If you have been working with a designer or architect and you have a complete set of drawings and complete specifications, ask that professional to recommend a few builders to whom you can send your plans for pricing. Also, ask your friends whether they have a contractor they have been happy with and send them your construction package to bid on as well.
If you have the detailed set of plans and the specs that I mentioned previously, you will get “apples to apples” pricing from the contractors bidding on the job. And the contractors will have to stick to their provided pricing because they had all the information in their hands.
Your Guide to a Smooth-Running Construction Project
4. Confirm That Your Contractor Is Insured
Unfortunately, accidents are part of the norm in this industry. A contractor has to manage a significant crew to make your project come together, and it’s not an easy task. Think of your contractor as a composer bringing all the parts of an orchestra together to create a masterpiece. There are bound to be mishaps occasionally, so please make sure your contractor is set up to deal with them properly.
Why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
Unfortunately, accidents are part of the norm in this industry. A contractor has to manage a significant crew to make your project come together, and it’s not an easy task. Think of your contractor as a composer bringing all the parts of an orchestra together to create a masterpiece. There are bound to be mishaps occasionally, so please make sure your contractor is set up to deal with them properly.
Why you should hire a professional who uses Houzz Pro software
5. Check Out Your Contractor’s Work
Once you’ve bid out your project and have a contractor in mind, ask to see some of their previous jobs. Even though the contractor may be referred to you by a friend or your architect, it doesn’t hurt to get a look at their work. If you like what you see, and the owner of the other house is happy with how things turned out, there’s a good chance that you will be happy too.
Not sure where to start on your home project? Learn the basics
Once you’ve bid out your project and have a contractor in mind, ask to see some of their previous jobs. Even though the contractor may be referred to you by a friend or your architect, it doesn’t hurt to get a look at their work. If you like what you see, and the owner of the other house is happy with how things turned out, there’s a good chance that you will be happy too.
Not sure where to start on your home project? Learn the basics
6. Interview Your Contractor
You will have to get quite close to your general contractor over the period of your project. Make sure you pick someone you trust and can communicate with. During initial meetings, ask how unexpected issues or differences might be handled. This can include change orders that will be issued by you or your designer in writing.
10 Things to Ask Your Contractor Before You Start Your Project
You will have to get quite close to your general contractor over the period of your project. Make sure you pick someone you trust and can communicate with. During initial meetings, ask how unexpected issues or differences might be handled. This can include change orders that will be issued by you or your designer in writing.
10 Things to Ask Your Contractor Before You Start Your Project
7. Dealing With the Extras
Keep in mind that your contractor may not have priced some items for your renovation, such as closet organizers and bathroom accessories. Ask your contractor how they deal with extras like these so you know the cost before you are committed to them.
10 Times to Hire a Contractor
Keep in mind that your contractor may not have priced some items for your renovation, such as closet organizers and bathroom accessories. Ask your contractor how they deal with extras like these so you know the cost before you are committed to them.
10 Times to Hire a Contractor
8. Ask About Timelines
Ask your contractor how long they believe it will take to complete your job and then add an extra eight weeks to help manage your expectations. There are so many unforeseen incidents that can happen on a construction site that delays are not uncommon.
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Ask your contractor how long they believe it will take to complete your job and then add an extra eight weeks to help manage your expectations. There are so many unforeseen incidents that can happen on a construction site that delays are not uncommon.
More on Houzz
Read more stories about working with pros
Get design ideas
Find a general contractor
Browse products
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Work with a professional designer or architect who can come up with a comprehensive plan to show your contractor so that he knows exactly what you have planned for your space. This is the most important item before you even approach a contractor. Walking your contractor through your space without a detailed plan in hand will allow the contractor to change his pricing as he goes, since the specifics were never discussed from the beginning.
Please bear in mind that permit drawings are not complete plans and contain limited information about the final design of your space. They provide information about the general layout and structure but have limited or no information pertaining to finishes, interior architecture, custom millwork, lighting and electrical features. This is the information that your contractor will need to give you accurate pricing before you start construction.
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