Hiring a Contractor? 6 Important Questions You Should Ask

Working with a contractor when building a new home or having a remodeling job done can be a blessing instead of a nightmare, if you do a little research first. Though there are numerous stories of contractors taking the money and running, most contractors live and die by their reputation. Word of mouth carries along way in the construction industry and they know it. Those contractors who have taken the money and ran, or done shoddy workmanship, certainly doesn’t stay in business very long. Prosecution comes swift for these wrong doers and retribution is painful. A few do escape the hand of the law and it leaves some homeowners with unpaid bills and unfinished work. it’s a fact of life that’s hard to deal with.

There are a few questions you should ask yourself before hiring a contractor. It’s always a good idea to ask the opinions of those who have recently had work done. A little time spent preparing and checking out the back ground of contractors is time well spent and money saved.

1. Licenses and Insurance

Does the contractor have the proper license? Is his insurance and workman’s comp. up to date? Ask to see these documents from the contractor. Call the local building department for references. The building inspectors in your area meet with contractors on a weekly or monthly basis and they will be able to give you an idea of who you are dealing with. State licensing agencies will have a good idea of how the contractors perform compared to their peers as well.

2. References

Will the contractor provide you with references and phone numbers of their most recent clients? Do they have photos of their most recent projects? If the references are old and far between dates, ask why. It’s usually a sign of bad references they are trying to avoid telling you about. How long have they been in business? That will give you a time frame to judge their references by. Call the better business bureau to see if they have had any complaints in the past.

3. Contracts

Is their contract simple and straight forward? If so, it’s probably not a good one. Most reliable builders have a large and heavily worded contract regarding specifics like materials to be used, warranties, manufacturers and sub-contractors. The more specific the better the builder is likely to be.

5. Who’s the Supervisor on the Job

It may not seem like an important question, but it is one of the most important. Ask to meet with the job superintendent. How often is the contractor going to be available for questions? Many times, a contractor plays the hide and seek game. The superintendent is bombarded with the questions and may be unable to answer them all.

6. When Will the Project be Completed?

When will the project begin and what is the realistic finishing time? If they haven’t got a thorough answer, it may be a sign that they really don’t care. Many contractors have too many projects under contract and it causes some serious delays in building. If it’s going to take a year or more that’s probably a sign that the contractor is over worked. A typical home of average size should take roughly 6 months or less to complete.

Always take the extra time to do the research and ask the right questions of your contractor. If you take this advice and do the leg work yourself, you’ll be a happier homeowner and the job will go smoothly and as planned.