HIRING A CONTRACTOR -
10 BIGGEST MISTAKES HOMEOWNERS MAKE
1. Choosing The Lowest Bidder
According to Consumer Reports - The biggest mistake consumers make is "being seduced by the price alone" Would you hire the cheapest surgeon in town to operate on you or a member of your family? There is a saying " Some of the most expensive work you will ever pay for is cheap work" Consider that you home is your biggest investment, and you should always think long-term when it comes to doing remodeling and also consider the effect of saving a few dollars now will have over 3,5, or 10 years of living there. "Some contractors use low quotes to win the job, then jack up the price later" says New York Assistant Attorney General Nick Garin.
Your most important tool in evaluating the cost of a project is the value of what you are getting for your money Low prices are usually a trade off for cutting corners in materials, workmanship or warranty. Are you well versed enough on the subject to compare apples to apples?
2. Not Getting It in Writing
Always insist on a written contract. The contract should be dated and include your name and address, as well as the contractor's name and address, and phone number. It should also contain a detailed description of the project, including plans, and materials. It should also outline how changes in work orders will be handled and the notice required for cancellation, and a payment schedule. The contract should allow to schedule your payments at different stages tied to completions of specific aspects of the project and have a final due upon completion.
3. Not Getting a Guarantee
This is one of the most forgotten questions for customers. Ask about the warranty and ask for it in writing. The Warranty should clearly spell out what is covered and what is not and how long the warranty is good for.
4. Not Checking References
A good contractor will be happy to provide you with dozens of written references. When speaking to the contractor's customers, ask such questions as:
Did the contractor keep to the schedule and the contract terms?
Were you pleased with the work and the way it was done?
Did the contractor listen to you if you had a problem, and seemed concerned about resolving it?
Did they answer their phone and return all your calls in a timely manner?
5. Not knowing what you want
If you don't know what you want, you might not like what you get. Also, if you change your mind and change the job halfway through, the contract- the price will change (hint- it won't be cheaper) Be as clear as possible of what you want the end result to be. You do not have to have every detail of each and every facet of what you want done but you do need to have a good idea of the broad things you want. Changes midway will keep increasing the price, especially if completed sections of the project have to be redone.
6. Not checking a contractor's insurance coverage
A contractor should be happy to show you his coverage. Ask about their General Liability Insurance. A one-million dollar policy is now considered standard. Make sure he requires the same coverage from any sub-contractor that will be working on your home.
7. Not insisting on Lien Waivers
Anyone who works on your house should provide you with a lien waiver, that waives their claim to future payments for the project. Typically a general contractor will provide waivers for all the workers and for the businesses that supplied labor and materials for the job.
8. Not Asking questions about how they work.
Ask Questions as how do they perform their work, what time do they start, how will you protect my carpets, how will the trash and debris be handled, do you work straight through a project. The answers to thesequestions will give you a clear picture of what type of contractor you are dealing with. Refer to item #4 to verify.
9. Not Asking questions about their experience with similiar work as yours.
The time for a contractor to experiment or get on the job training is not on your project. The more experience a contractor has with the work involved in your project the smoother, less delays and better you can expect your project to be executed. Ask the contractor how many times he has completed projects such as yours. What issues does he believe he may run into during your project? What procedures does he have in place to eliminate problems that might surface during the completion of your project?
10. Not asking for a detailed schedule as to work to be performed.
All projects need a plan of action and it helps to have the work schedule so you know what is being done in your home and when you need to have items decided on. Also to know that some items may take a long time to order so as to avoid all delays.
11. But if your hire the right contractor - none of these items become an issue. There are more items, but will be handled and make your experience pleasurable.