Home improvement projects have become increasingly popular in the past few years.? The long recession has prompted many to decide to remain in their existing homes and update their living space rather than try to sell a house in an uncertain real estate market.? A decision to remodel your home can be very exciting but before making any decisions about adding on a room or updating a tired kitchen a savvy homeownerUsually the name-on-the-mortgage/pays-the-bills person, the homeowner is the one who contacts the contractor to do a jobA job is a term for whatever tasks are in the contract for the contractor to do. These are generally more specific than ?home maintenance? and usually are broken down into a scope of work which contains each individual task such as plumbing, electrical, or drywall. They are the point person for Safepact on things like funding the transaction, approving the work, and releasing payment to the contractor. needs a solid plan of action for identifying and selecting the right contractorShort for ?general contractor? a contractor is an individual hired by a homeowner or an architect to oversee work that is being done on a home. Sometimes the work will be done by the contractor, but often times the contractor will hire subcontractors to do some or all of the work. For a more detailed explanation of contractors and their responsibilities read more about it on our blog. for their particular job.
Proper care and diligence is needed in selecting a contractor in the same fashion one would use in selecting a CPA, attorney, or doctor.? You and the contractor will be closely involved in a major financial transaction, taking place over a period of time, in your personal living space.? For this it is imperative you select a contractor who will perform quality work in a trustworthy manner.? Finding a professional? who produces quality workmanship under agreed upon terms is not as simple as looking up the a name in the Yellow Pages.
There are many informative resources on the internet with high quality content related to the process of selecting a reliable home improvement contractor. ? There are also just as many stories of homeowners who have been wronged by unscrupulous contractors.? Each internet resource recommends a variety of steps to take to prevent your own personal home improvement horror story.? What we provide you here in the following paragraphs are 5 steps which are recommended by 95% of all home improvement web sites.
Know what you want to accomplish-Home improvement projects can get complex and pricey.? If you have an idea of what you want and how much you can afford to spend you can communicate your desires more effectively in the contractor interview process.
Check with friends, family members, and other colleagues- who have done a recent remodel project.? The most professional contractors in your area have worked hard to establish and protect their reputations.? The best way to locate them is through a satisfied customer.? If you are new to an area and do not have a referral source then consider contacting the local chapter of the Home Remodelers Association or the Home Builders Association.? Also consider speaking with a residential construction? lender at a local bank.? Lenders at banks typically have working knowledge of contractors who complete work on time and in budget.? There are other means of finding quality referrals but the basics are to find someone who has made the journey ahead of you and ask them.
Make sure the contractor has the proper credentials- Many states require contractors to be licensed.? This is a good thing, you do not want someone performing the work in your home who does not possess the required documentation and proper insuranceJust like home or car insurance this is insurance the contractor takes out to safeguard against potential pitfalls from the job such as injury or destruction of the homeowners property. These are purchased and supplied by the contractor and is something your contractor must have. coverage.? There are many part timers and fly by nighters who will offer to perform the project at substantial price difference but do not let that Pandoras Box into your home!? The list of headaches a homeowner can expect from an unlicensed contractors includes but is not limited to:? budget busting mistakes, excessive time to complete the job, faulty materials, improper permit filing, take the money and run, death in the family and can?t make it to the job site this week, etc,etc?.
Check with the Better Business Bureau-most of the content you find on the internet about choosing a good contractor recommends you check with your local BBB to make sure your short list of preferred contractors does not have an open Adverse Action file.? This is good advice so plan to call them.? The service from the BBB is free and the information current and accurate.
Get Three Quotes-Contact and interview at least enough contractors to get three written quotes.? You may need to talk to more than three to refine the scope of your project.? You will be surprised at the difference in the prices of each quote.? Once you get the quotes make sure you are comparing apples to apples and the quality of materials is similar in each quote.? There is lot of variety in prices for everything from paint, flooring, appliances, to door knobs.? It is hard to suggest which quote best fits your needs as each homeowner has different requirements and expectations.? Once you have decided on the contractor for your project the next step is to get the scope and details of the work documented in a contract.? The contract process is a topic for another discussion so if you have made it to that step congratulations you are close to starting your home improvement projectA home improvement project is anything associated with improving, maintaining, or renovating your home. This is the specific reason that you hired the contractor and the job that they are completing.!
Remodeling your home can be an exciting and challenging process.? Most of us have viewed the before and after photos or videos of some remarkable transition of a home that appears as if the Brady Bunch is living in the bedrooms upstairs to something equipped with the latest flat screen entertainment center and modern woodwork and paint.? Updating rooms or an entire house makes it more liveable and appeals to our sense of satisfaction in our surroundings. ? Failing to properly plan in the beginning of the home remodeling process and selecting a quality contractor to perform the work can assuredly transform the home improvement dream into an nightmare.? If you follow the 5 proven steps in selecting your contractor listed above you are almost certain to be one of the many satisfied customers of the home improvement industry.
About the author: Ryan Johnston has served many homeowners home improvement financing needs over the past 10 years.? In his position as a commercial lender with a community bank in the southeast he was responsible for originating and overseeing the funding process of residential construction and home improvement loans.? He has hands on experience dealing with the challenges and joys homeowners experience in the construction and home improvement process.
Source: http://blog.safepact.com/articles/5-absolutes-choosing-remodeling-contractor/
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