When the time comes that you want to upgrade, remodel, or renovate your home or property, it is important to hire the right people to do the work. You need only do a quick Google search to read horror stories from unsuspecting property owners who did not make the right choice. Below you will find some helpful tips to assist you in selecting the right contractor for the jobs.
Jack of all trades
It is important to know the type of contractor you are needing. In these situations, a specialty contractor (professional in this area of work) is required. By determining if the contractor focuses on high end remodels or only does basic work, you will find the right fit. This also allows you to compare prices with like vendors.
Just because a contractor has a good reputation for roofing, for example, does not automatically mean they can remodel the kitchen where they will work with water, plumbing, and electricity. Consequently, just because you found a contractor with a good reputation for working with sinks, tubs, and faucets, doesn’t mean they are the right company to properly erect your backyard pub shed. Ask the contractor for references in the particular work you want to be done.
Ask for recommendations
Ask vendors who they recommend to do your renovations or remodeling. They will know the contractors in the area that purchase quality items and have a good reputation among other customers and other suppliers. Check with Pro Desks located inside your home and garden stores.
Ask family and friends, coworkers and neighbors and compile a list of potential contractors that have done business with people you know and respect.
Check their standing with the Better Business Bureau
Check and see if they have had disputes and complaints filed against them and how they resolved them. It is not impossible for even a very good contractor to have a misunderstanding with a client. But how they responded and the end results will give you an idea of their standards.
Ask for a breakdown of the quotes
You need to know how much of the money you are paying is going toward materials. If you are paying top dollar for your installation, you should be getting high-quality materials for your home.
Don’t be scammed
Check with your State Register of contractors and request certificates of insurance before you allow any work to begin. The contractor you choose should be insured, licensed and bonded. If they are not, do not hire them. This is a sure sign of a scammer or an unqualified company trying to work “off the books”.
Are they willing to work with you?
Perhaps you are purchasing a steel storage building, backyard pub shed, garage, or pole barn from a quality steel prefabricated company. You may opt to have the supplier erect the building on your property. Or, because the buildings are prefabricated, come with easy instructions, and full support from the company, you may choose to erect the building yourself. However, if you are putting in a structure to use as your man cave or pub shed, you will need a contractor to install the electric, and water for your modern sink. Ask the contractor what they are willing to do and if they have any problem with you doing part of the work yourself.
Do not buy based only on price
If someone comes in with a quote that is substantially lower than other contractors in the area for the same work, something is wrong. Either they are using substandard materials, cutting corners on the job, or they do not know how to properly determine costs of the projects. You are better off to avoid their issues.
Use caution if the contractor asks for payment of more than 50% upfront. Some states allow a contractor to only ask for ⅓ upfront. Asking for a deposit ensures that you will not cost the contractor money by delaying the job once it is scheduled. Asking for a deposit protects them. If you have done your homework and feel you have a quality and upstanding contractor, a 50% deposit is reasonable for a job up to $10,000. If the job is substantially more, make sure they have detailed invoicing and expect to pay approximately 25% upfront.
About the author: Wendy Dessler is an outreach manager with MaestroBath, the creators of Italian modern sinks and faucets.
Normally, we pass on tips and tricks from a remodeler or contractor. Since it is always a good idea to get a fresh perspective on things, today we’re getting tips from a design expert!
Angie Hranowsky, a designer, spoke of the value in crunching budget numbers to Architectural Digest magazine in an article about how to ensure you have a smooth home renovation.
(Aside: You might have to refresh a couple of times for the article to come up.)
Her biggest takeaway is to put in the prep work.
First, get a head start on the decisions important to you. If you are attached to a color, style, or vanity, make sure your contractor knows. Pictures can help! “Modern vanity” or “light green” can mean different things to different people. Make sure nothing is lost in translation.
Next, go over the budget with contractor. Give all those line items a look. Does something look low? Is something sounding a bit high? Start a dialogue. It’s better to iron out these things ahead of time. Because once walls start coming down, costs on adjustments go up.
Last, do some comparison shopping. This is related to the second item. Take a spin through stores both online and in person and get an idea of what things cost. That way you can get a better feel for where you might want to save money and where you might want to splurge.
Elsewhere, if you are looking to spice up your kitchen, look no further than our organizer for drawers shown above. It’s available on our shop right here!
Happy Cinco de Mayo! Have a great week!
Many people have a hard time envisioning what it’s like to embark on a home remodel.
The reality is that it’s not like what you see on TV. It is sometimes tedious, but it is worth it all the time.
We recently came across an article on the subject titled “10 things you should expect during a home remodel” on the Dayton Daily News website.
All 10 tips are good, but we will spotlight the best for you.
First, things will get dusty in here. There will be grime, as the article puts it. It’s the nature of the business of taking things apart and putting them back together again. A good contractor will help you prepare for and deal with the dirt that accompanies every remodel.
Second, it might get another kind of dusty in here. Things can get frustrating, like the article notes. You might lose your cool, and even shed a few tears. But as long as you trust the process and keep the lines of communication open with your contractor, things will go as smoothly as possible.
Third, you’re gonna have to make up your mind. There will be many decisions, so get ready. The last thing a contractor wants to do is disappoint you, so honor each decision as it arrives, no matter how trivial it might seem at the time.
Finally, it will be worth it. The article calls it “exultation,” but we like to call it “satisfaction.” That’s the sheer joy that comes with the completion of a project. No more mess, no more fuss. Just life to live in your new space.
Speaking of rolling with the punches, a couple from Minneapolis encountered some sticker shock when it came time to remodel their kitchen in their 1940s home.
Much like how a shirt unravels at the tugging of a single thread, the couple found out that getting rid of their island dishwasher (yes, really) would be harder than they first imagined. Check out their story for a longer, fleshed out version of what can happen during the remodeling process.
Have a good week!
