So, you have a home renovation project and need professional help. If you’ve never hired a contractor, stepping into this world can feel overwhelming. You might be worried that you’ll hire someone who overcharges you, is inexperienced, or cuts corners.
Ultimately, finding the right contractor comes down to doing your due diligence. You have to do the work to find the best person who fits your project’s needs. Follow our tips and tricks to find the best contractor for the job.
7 Tips for Hiring the Right Contractor
Homeowners plan to spend between $19,000 to $30,000 on home renovation projects annually. With budgets this large, you want to ensure you get the best outcome possible.
Here are the seven critical tips for hiring a contractor that is experienced, trustworthy, and fair.
1. Get Estimates From Several Contractors
Never, ever, ever get a single estimate and hire that contractor immediately. Instead, it’s crucial to talk to several contractors about your project and get several estimates. You do so for a few reasons:
- This allows you to compare prices and get a general idea of the project’s cost. Avoid anyone who provides an estimate that is too high or too low.
- Getting a few estimates also allows you to talk to several contractors about the project. You’ll hear several opinions on what they think about cost, timeline, and necessary versus nice-to-have project parameters. This will help you identify the contractors who are trying to upsell you and make the project bigger than it needs to be.
- Talking to several contractors can also help you pinpoint the ones who don’t have enough experience. As contractors come to the site to learn more about the project and give you an estimate, they’ll provide their opinion on what needs to be done and the best approach. Generally speaking, most of the contractors will have a similar plan. If a contractor seems to have a plan that’s quite different or less detailed than everyone else, it could be a sign of inexperience.
Note you should also make sure that the estimates you receive are detailed. When you hire someone and receive actual invoices, you can compare them to the estimates that you were originally given.
The estimate you’re given is just that—an estimate. It’s very likely that the actual cost will be much different once the work starts. So, it’s worth it to have a conversation about how this will be handled before you hire someone. Ideally, you want to work with a contractor who’ll verify changes with you before any work begins so you’re not stuck with a bill that is shockingly higher than your estimate without any warning.
2. Hire Local
Hiring a local contractor will be crucial if you’re hiring for work that requires you to get permits or pass inspections. Local contractors will be experienced in dealing with your city’s rules and regulations, so they can go through this process efficiently. Someone who is learning the local requirements will only slow down your project and increase the risk of rejections or demands for rework from the city.
3. Ask for Portfolio Examples
You can’t just take someone’s word that they’re experienced in what they do or that they can achieve the final outcome you’re looking for. Skilled, professional contractors will have a portfolio they can share with you that showcases their previous work. You want to look through these pictures to verify their quality of work meets your standards.
4. Check References
Checking references is critical to ensure you hire someone trustworthy and reliable. You’ll want to:
- Look up their business online and find customer reviews
- Search their name on sites such as the Better Business Bureau to see if there are any complaints filed against them
- Ask the contractor directly for a customer reference they can provide so you can speak to a real past client
- Consider asking friends and family members for contractor referrals. These are people you trust who can vouch for the contractors they’ve hired in the past.
5. Make Sure They’re Bonded and Insured
You should only hire a contractor that is bonded and insured for property and liability damage. The last thing you want to have to deal with is exorbitant costs related to someone getting hurt on your property or something getting broken.
6. Ask for a Written Contract
Always ask for a written contract when you’re ready to hire someone. Someone who insists they’ll keep their word and everything can be left verbal is not to be trusted. A written contract protects you from a contractor not fulfilling their services or overcharging you. The contract should be detailed; if you don’t understand it, have a lawyer read it.
7. Negotiate Pricing
Our last tip is to negotiate pricing. Contractors often start with a slightly elevated quote because they expect you to negotiate with them. You can try to get the price down by offering incentives like cash payments, a larger initial deposit, or a faster payment schedule.
On the note of pricing, never pay for a project fully upfront. The pricing schedule should involve making a deposit and continuing with payments as the work progresses.
The Right Contractor For You is Out There
Remember, finding the right contractor is possible if you don’t get overexcited and rush the hiring process. Do the work and carefully examine your options. Finding the right person will help you have a smoother experience with your home renovation project in terms of cost, outcome, and timeline.
You might also be interested in: Living Through a Renovation: 6 Tips To Keep You Sane
