Smart Homeowner Secrets for Finding and Managing a Reliable Contractor
By: Ami
A reliable contractor can be the single factor to preventing a catastrophe of a home renovation project. Honest and organized contractors ensure high quality work, meet deadlines, and stick to the budget. With so many options though, how do you separate the dependable experts from the unreliable ones? The answer is research, communication, and a lot of patience.
Before hiring anyone, take time to investigate. The prep work may be annoying at first, but can save you money, stress, and time in the long run. Below, we share our tips for finding a reliable contractor.
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Research, research, research
Check reviews and testimonials
Start with online reviews. Websites like Google, Houzz, and even the Better Business Bureau provide insight and firsthand experience with the contractor from previous clients. Look for any patterns throughout the reviews such as consistent praise about their quality of work, their professionalism, and timeliness. If you notice patterns of complaints, consider it a red flag and move on.
Ask for referrals
Word of mouth recommendations are one of the best ways to find a reliable contractor. Ask around to friends, family, and neighbors about their experiences. Better yet, if you’re looking for a subcontractor, reach out to well-established builders you like and ask if they know of any they can recommend. If you’re looking for a builder, a good place to start is their social media. Websites are great to learn more about a company and to view portfolios, but they aren’t updated often. Social media, on the other hand, is normally a good representation of current work and comments can tell you a lot about their reputation and how they’re perceived.
Verify licensing and insurance
A professional contractor will hold the proper licenses and insurance to operate as a business. Check your state and local requirements, then confirm that the contractor meets them. Proper credentials protect you from liability and mean the contractor likely follows building codes.
Review their portfolio
An experienced contractor should have an up to date portfolio located on a website. This will show their previous work where you can view their quality, style, and consistency. Sometimes, builders will have open houses where the public can view their work. That would be a great opportunity to see in person if they’re a good fit for your project.
Time to narrow down the choices
Conduct interviews
Once you’ve compiled a list of contractors you’d like to reach out to, conduct thorough interviews. During this time you’ll have the chance to ask them all the necessary questions, listen to how they communicate, and determine if they could be easy to work with. A simple conversation can provide a lot of insight for how it could be when working with them.
To elaborate, a reliable contractor responds promptly and doesn’t ghost you. They explain things clearly and are willing to answer questions, even the mundane ones. If they dodge questions or dismiss your concerns, consider it another red flag. Good communication is a must for a home renovation to run smoothly.
Ask the right questions
When interviewing contractors, there are a whole host of questions that should be your baseline, before getting into specifics. These questions include asking about their processes, their timeline, and how they’ll communicate progress and issues to you. Luckily, we’ve done the hard work for you by putting together a list of questions to ask your contractor to see if they’re a good fit.
Request a detailed estimate
A contractor should always be willing to provide a detailed estimate for the project before any work has begun. It should break down labor, materials, and any additional costs. Avoid contractor whose pricing is vague or only works off verbal agreements. Everything should be documented and easy to understand. Clear documentation helps prevent miscommunication and disputes later.
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Manage the project with confidence
Getting the right contractor for the job is just the first step. Now, there needs to be management of the project to keep things on track and stress free. Your communication is just as important. Make sure to define your goals, budget, and preferred timeline upfront. Make sure all of this is in writing as well, including any design details. This eliminates confusion and keeps everyone accountable for their part of the collaboration.
Schedule consistent updates
Frequent progress updates help catch issues before they spiral into bigger problems. They can also act as reassurance for you to ease stress. Weekly progress reviews can also address concerns and keep the project on schedule.
Document everything
Keep a record of all contracts, proposals, payments, change orders, designs or renderings, and messages between you and the contractor. Written or signed agreements protect both of you if there are unexpected costs, broken or stolen items, or a misunderstanding.
Stay flexible
In home renovation or building, it’s inevitable that delays happen. You may need to make small shifts, but don’t let minor setbacks turn into major setbacks. If something feels off, address it immediately. For example, if painting has started and the trim color is white, but just doesn’t quite seem like the white you chose – say something. For peace of mind, check the label of the paint to be sure and go from there. You’ll thank yourself in the end, even if that white paint was right.
Also, a reliable contractor will work with you to find a solution. If they patient and willing to listen to your concerns, you’ve likely found a good one.
Watch out for common pitfalls
Even the best contractor can make mistakes. In order to protect yourself even further, avoid these common pitfalls.
Don’t pay everything up front. Reputable contractors won’t demand the full amount before starting. A normal and reasonable deposit ranges between 10-30% of the total cost quoted. Installments throughout the project are a smart way to reenforce accountability.
If a contractor’s proposal or estimate is too good to be true, err on the side of caution. Low bids oftentimes means cut corners, cheap materials, or even hidden costs. Always choose a contractor with fair and transparent pricing!
Trust your instincts. Listen to your gut. Going into a renovation project shouldn’t be stressful. You should feel confident and, of course, excited! If communication starts to decline or if promises sound disingenuous, reconsider your choice.
Feeling confident yet?
The task of finding a reliable contractor takes effort, but the results are worth it! Not only will you have a beautiful and high quality project, but it will be enjoyable getting to that point. Doing your homework and research, setting clear expectations, and staying involved set you up for a great renovation without the headaches and stress.
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