Introduction
Renovating your house can result in a lot of expenses and stress. The primary thing that becomes our fundamental concern is to hire a reliable contractor because the expertise of your hired contractor will decide whether your project of renovation will be a success or a disaster. Also, you need to find a professionally licensed contractor who will take care of the budget as well as the model precisely. In this article, Mark Roemer shares things to consider that will help you to make the right decision before hiring a general contractor.
The Considerations
A few things to consider before you hire a general contractor are listed below:
- Do some research– Before hiring a contractor use your own instincts. For instance, ask your friends, relatives, or neighbors for their experiences with the same and also, references. Try to get informed by those people who have completed similar renovations in their homes recently.
You should also ask your contractor some basic questions about their prior experience and the approximate cost details. Asking these types of questions will help you to understand the company’s professionalism and reliability.
- Safety is the First Priority- People tend to make the mistake of not checking the license of the contractor and consequently, their insurance fails. Liability insurance is something that covers any kind of property damage and injuries caused by the contractor’s work. Also, you need to be careful about the workers’ compensation insurance as it is more expensive than a general liability policy. Homeowners may be held liable for damages if the contractor is not properly licensed, bonded, and insured.
- Know about the Subcontractors– Your responsibility does not end with having some general queries on the contractor only. You need to know about the terms and conditions regarding your subcontractors as well. Along with their proofs of the license, bond, and insurance, insist on a lien release. If the contractor fails to pay them this lien release protects the homeowner from liability. Just because you pay your contractor does not mean he pays them. If the contractor is not willing to provide wavers, that’s a red signal.
- Make Sure of a Detailed Contract– Make sure to get a written contract signed by both parties, where it will clearly mention the minute details like labor and materials fees, blueprints, payment schedule, stat and completion dates, proof of insurance, license, and lien releases. This will save you from the unnecessary wasting of time and ensure a positive client-contractor relationship.
Also, don’t forget to have a legal contract for a payment schedule. Considering the general assumptions, it would be better to sign two to three equal installment payments over the duration of the project, and a final payment when the project is completed.
Conclusion
Maintaining good communications throughout the project is also important and helps you when addressing changes or fixing issues on the final walkthrough. Mark Roemer suggests you reach out to some reputed companies where you may rely upon the authenticity of the workers so that you do not have to get involved in any unwanted problems.
