How do you pick and hire the right contractor?

Going into a home remodeling project can be a daunting task. Not only do you have to commit to living in a construction project for an extended period of time, you need to make decisions on fixtures, colors, finishes, and other design elements. For many homeowners, this is not the task to take on as a do-it-yourself project, and that means hiring a home remodel contractor.

If you have no experience in the construction industry, finding a home remodel contractor comes with a number of concerns. What is the timeline this professional can work in? How will you know if their prices are acceptable? What type of timeline should you expect? Most importantly, is this someone you feel comfortable having in your home?

First and foremost, do not make this decision blind. Reach out to family and friends who have had projects done in their own homes. Chances are they will have a recommendation (for good or ill) regarding the home remodel contractor they worked with. Family and friend recommendations are the heartbeat of the construction industry, and gathering positive feedback from your loved ones is a great place to start. If you don’t have any trusted resources for word-of-mouth recommendations, another option is online review sites, though it is very important to realize these websites can easily be skewed via solicited feedback.

Once you have a handful of good candidates, start your own interview process. There is nothing that says you have to commit to a home remodel contractor based on their availability and price structure. It is okay to ask questions, and it is okay to ask for references from past jobs. You are hiring someone to come into your home and do work for you; an interview process is perfectly acceptable. Write your questions down and go into the phone call prepared. Has this home remodel contractor done your type of project before? How many people are on his/her team? Do they enjoy this particular type of job? Do they have any professional partnerships with remodel suppliers? Ultimately, you need to feel comfortable with the individual you select; the rest of the details are secondary.

When you’ve gone through a preliminary list of candidates and have picked several that generated friendly, knowledgeable rapport, you’re going to want to compare prices.

Keep in mind that price shopping when it comes to home remodel contractors isn’t as simple as who has the lowest quote (though you should definitely get quotes from all of your options). You will need to take into consideration the proposed speed of the job, if the home remodeling contractor is willing to work with only certain material suppliers, and what, if any, special accreditations he or she brings to the project. The more experience and formal education a home remodel contractor has, the more they will be able to charge for their services, and often rightly so. In recent years, there have been industry shifts toward energy efficiency and wellness. The International WELL Building Institute, for example, encourages industry professionals to obtain certifications toward wellness in the built environment. In other words, there is a shift toward sustainable construction and design elements that encourage healthy living. If these things are important to you, you can expect to pay a small premium for someone with such certifications.

Ultimately, however, the swing between your home remodel contractor quote should not be shocking. It can be normal for a few thousand dollars to be the difference between quotes; but this is why you need to see itemized breakdowns so you can accurately compare the details. Remember, it can be next to impossible to obtain a realistic quote if the home remodel contractor does not come out to your home. A blind quote given over the phone should be considered a red flag unless it can be followed up with an in-person assessment.

Now, you have quotes in-hand and you’re at a comfortable level of trust with the candidates for your project, the next important factor to consider is timeline. Many contractors, home remodel contractors included, have been significantly impacted by 2020’s pandemic situation. The demand for home projects has skyrocketed; some contractors are happy to take your project on – if you are happy to wait 6 months to get on their schedules. Schedules are important for two reasons: if you have a special day you need renovations done by, you’re going to have to pick a contractor that can work in your schedule; if you have to wait 6 months, the prices of the finish materials you’ve selected could significantly fluctuate and you might find yourself over budget.

Finally, you need to consider the level of support your home remodel contractor is willing to provide. Some professionals work closely with interior designers and other design consultants who can take some of the guesswork out of what colors work best and what materials have the best longevity. While these services may carry an additional fee, some may be complimentary, and it is an important question to ask during your discovery process. If there are no added value services, will your home remodel contractor be willing to answer any questions you have when it comes to making design decisions? Homeowners often have a vision they are trying to achieve, but it can be very helpful to have a professional contractor come in and discuss the practicality of those choices. There are often alternatives to impractical selections that won’t compromise quality while saving on cost. Even though you are paying your home remodel contractor, he or she should have your best interests in mind.

If you’ve done the leg work and all your criteria have been met, make sure you read through your contractual agreement thoroughly before signing. In fact, asking for a copy early is not unheard of. You should be able to take time to review any legal obligation you are entering into, particularly when it comes to damages, deposits, and payment for work done.