Six Questions to Ask When Hiring a Construction Contractor

Whether you’re moving into your first home or fixing up your current residence, hiring a construction contractor can be like putting a tremendous amount of trust in a stranger. However, it doesn’t have to be a risk if you do your due diligence ahead of time. If you don’t know where to start, these six questions will help you get a good idea of ​​whether a construction contractor will be right for your project.

1. How long have you been in the industry?

While we all have to start somewhere, finding out how much experience a construction contractor has can be helpful in determining whether or not they have the skills to handle unexpected problems that arise. If possible, try to see a portfolio of jobs that is similar to what you are looking to accomplish at home.

2. What licenses and insurance do you have?

Based on experience, any type of professional license and liability insurance can only help you put your mind at ease when hiring a new construction contractor for the first time. Check to make sure the required or additional permissions he or she claims to have are up to date and active.

3. Do you have a list of references?

Along with researching experience and licenses, checking references will help you find out if previous projects were completed on time and on budget, as well as if the contractor’s previous clients felt there were red flags along the way. Use your experiences to help you have a full expectation for your own project.

4. Do you obtain the required permits?

A big question to avoid ahead of time is making sure you know who is responsible for what. If your contractor does not obtain permits for the work and expects you to do so, make sure you are aware of what this process entails.

5. What guarantees do you offer?

Try to find out whether or not the builder will guarantee your work, and how long that guarantee is valid after the completion of a project. Again, getting realistic expectations by figuring out exactly what the construction contractor will and will not be responsible for will help you create a clearer picture of how the job will end. It will also help determine what the relationship will be after completion.

6. How often can I expect to contact you?

If you are a person who prefers daily updates, you will feel disrespected if the contractor is more of a milestone update person. If you’re more hands-free, getting mundane updates can seem like a waste of time. Make your communication expectations clear, and if there are big differences in preferences, try to find a middle ground.

Building or renovating your dream home may seem like a big risk when it comes to your time and money, but you can mitigate the risk by taking the time to ask the right questions. Start with these six questions and you will have a great experience with your home remodeling team.