16
May2014
7 Things To Ask Before Hiring A Contractor
Whether you’re fixing your home or having a room added to your house, it’s always important to ask the essential questions before hiring a contractor. It’s a big financial investment. It can financially damage those who don’t choose their contractor wisely. And because the well-being of your home is in the hands of these contractors, you want to make sure it’s well taken care of.
Are you licensed? It’s smart to keep in mind that not all states require their contractors to be licensed. If this applies to your state, make sure you hire a licensed contractor. If you hire someone who’s unlicensed, you can’t resolve the problem legally if your house is damaged or incomplete.
Do you belong to any Professional company or organization? Although unnecessary, a contractor joining an association shows their commitment and professionalism. This means they’ve probably been offered additional training in an area specific to their specialty.
Do you have references? If a contractor doesn’t provide you with references or is uncomfortable with the idea, don’t even waste your time. Asking previous clients about the contractor you’re about to hire ensures that their professional and reliable for your project.
Do you have an estimate? While some projects can’t properly be estimated due to hidden damages or unexpected problems, any experienced contractor should be able to give you an estimated time of completion for the project you need done.
What will our schedule be? Scheduling doesn’t just involve a start date and an end date. A schedule involves tasks and sequences and different deadlines for different parts of the projects. Schedules wil also act as a benchmark that’ll allow you to know if things are going wrong if the schedule is behind.
Who will be here every day? Keep in mind that this answer could vary depending on the size of the company you’re hiring from. Be up front and ask who exactly will be opening and closing up the house. Ask who will be supervising and who you can call on a regular basis to keep in touch (this person should be able to consistently keep in touch with you throughout the duration of the project).
How will you communicate with me? With several methods of communication, you might have a certain preference as to how you want to communicate with your contractor. Make sure you have a good handle on how communication will be handled between the two of you, whether it is emails or just phone calls. Always be sure to start with a schedule that lists days and times your contractor’s workers will be working on site.
These questions are essential to ask before hiring a contractor. With these helpful questions, you’re sure to hire a professional who can successfully help and complete the project you need done