Choosing the right contractor makes a big difference between a successful project and one that’s bound to fail. Often, working with the wrong contractors can lead to legal problems, subpar work, delays, and cost build-up. As such, it’s important to be diligent when deciding who to hire as your contractor. With that said, here are what to look for when choosing a contractor:
Insurance Cover for Workers and General Liability
During construction, anything could go wrong. As such, you need a contractor with insurance cover for their workers and general liability. This will protect you as the homeowner from financial responsibility in the site due to injury or damage.
Licensed
Before choosing the constrictor, check whether they are licensed. This is an assurance that the contractor has met the entire requirement according to the state guidelines. It’s also an important state if you are planning to sell that house later on. More often, real estate doesn’t recognize structures from unlicensed contractors. In the case of Florida, visit this area DDLR websites to check if a contractor is licensed.
Get Recommendations
Recommendations are great in guiding you. However, don’t over-rely on this and fail to consider key factors when selecting the contractor. Also, contact the building inspectors you know for a recommendation. ‘Cause, the important thing here is to find a contractor who fulfills the housing code requirement.
Undertake Phone Interviews
Once you have a list of contractors at hand, it’s time to interview each one through the phone. During the interview, remember to cover the following points:
o Have they done a project size similar to yours before?
o Do they have subcontractors? If they do, how long have they been working together?
o How many projectors can they handle at any given time?
o Can they provide you with a reference list of past clients?
o Are they providing financial references, whether it’s banks or suppliers?
Meet In-Person
After the phone interviews, shrink your list of contractors and remain with at least 3-4. At this point, arrange to meet each other in person. But before the meeting, organize a set of key questions they should answer to your satisfaction. And most importantly, you should be able to connect and communicate well with the contractor. Remember, they’ll be in your house for several hours daily.
Payment Schedule
Before signing the contract, organize a payment schedule. Now, this is an important step in choosing the contractor. It speaks loud about the financial status of the contractor and their work ethic. If they want half the total cost upfront, that means they have financial strain.
More often, they are worried you won’t complete the payment after you’ve seen their work in progress. More often, large projects require a 10% upfront of the bid when signing the contractor. And then the rest is completed through a payment plan.
Price shouldn’t guide you
Don’t be compelled by low bids when choosing the contractor, this could cost you later. Your focus should be on quality and timely project completion, among other key factors.
Everything in Writing
It’s important to have a thoroughly detailed contract once you decide who you will work with. Ensure it highlights key details such as insurance liability, payment schedule, and the start and completion date, among others. Others include signing lien releases, stating the type and quality of materials to be used. This will guarantee successful construction or renovation.
Final Take
Now, it makes sense why you should choose an experienced contractor to work on your construction or build project. It guarantees timely completion of projects, superb work, and no-cost build-up to worry about. And most importantly, it guarantees the structure will last longer without costing you on repairs and maintenance. If you need such a contractor, reach out to Perillo Construction.