Hiring a Home Improvement Contractor

You finally got the keys to that home you and your family has been waiting for. Then you get all moved in and settled for a few months and you find there are a few things you would like to change or upgrade.

So you sit down with your wife and discuss all aspects of a home improvement project. There will be cost, time, inconveniences and more. Depending on the size of your project you may want to consider hiring a home improvement contractor.

DIY
When the project is small like painting a room, installing fixtures, or doing a small patch of concrete you can do the project yourself. These types of projects do not take a lot of special tools, time or permits. Even though I have heard you should get permits to change the trap under your sink. So you may want to check with building and safety department in your area. The greatest part of doing the project yourself is the satisfaction you get when you are done.

Hiring a Home Improvement Contractor
If you are going to do a large project like a room addition, tile a large room or all your floors, or paint the exterior of your home you will probably want to hire a Contractor.

A good way to get a dependable contractor is to ask people you know for names of contractors that they have used. You should try to get at least 3-4 names to choose from. Then you can get references of jobs done by the contractor from the contractors themselves.

Be sure to ask them if they have a license and as part of your homework you can check there license you can do this by contacting the State licensing board in your state Then you want to make sure that they have insurance and are bonded you may want to contact the company that insures them to make sure that their insurance is up to date.

Some Contractors will pay the premium get the cards and then stop paying. They will show you the cards and you will have no way of knowing if they are up to date and you do not want to find out that there insurance has not been paid after an accident. If they have a problem giving you this information beware.

Once you have done this you can call on the references and ask
Was the project completed on time?
Did it stay within budget?
How were changes dealt with?
Did the contractor get permits or did they have to?
Was the job-manned everyday that it could be? Exception bad weather material delays etc.

While you are doing this you can give each contractor a set of plans and ask them to bid on your project. By the time you have done your research they can probably have their bid ready to return to you.

You can now sit down and discuss this with you spouse who you would like to use knowing you have all the information you need to make an informed decision and no matter which one of these contractors you use they will be qualified to do the job taking about 50% of the headache out of the project.

This may seem like a lot of work but you will want to be sure that the home improvement contractor that is going to be helping you to fulfill one of your families dreams is the best you can get.

About the Author

Author Philip Collins had his own construction business for 11 years until an injury made him change careers. Read more informative articles on Home
Improvement at http://www.rosesgiftsonline.com

Article Source: Content for Reprint

How To Hire A Home Improvement Contractor

By: Bill McCowen

Hiring the right contractor will probably be the most crucial decision you make after making the initial decision to renovate your home. More important than the color of your bathroom tiles or the type of flooring you install in the kitchen, your contractor will oversee your entire renovation project, hopefully keep you on budget, manage any hired workers, and act as your professional quality control. The work of an inattentive contractor can result in a project that runs weeks beyond its deadline and thousands of dollars over budget. That would be a formula for failure!

This is why it’s so important to select a reputable contractor. But how do you do it? Keep reading for some easy tips on how to hire the best home improvement contractor.

1. Come Prepared with a Plan

Before you even begin to search for a home contractor, develop a solid idea of what you want to accomplish with your home improvement project before you start. Consider, though, that a contractor is not a designer, so begin a project with your own ideas about how in the end you want the final outcome of the work to look.

Taking that initial step will make it easier for you to set a budget and for your prospective contractors to give you an accurate quote and project timeline.

2. Obtain Contractor Referrals

Ask your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors for contractor recommendations out of their own experiences - whether positive or negative. If, for example, your prospective contractor did a wonderful job on your sister’s house, then chances are he’ll do a great job on yours as well.

Also, don’t be afraid to ask any prospective home improvement contractors for references that you can actually call. If the person you are considering for the role is a high quality professional, then there should be no problem supplying you with the names and numbers of other satisfied customers. Once you have secured those references, make the calls!

Another avenue is to type your contractor’s name into an online search engine and see if any negative or positive reviews pop up in the search results. For example, "John Smith contractor references."

3. Don't be Timid about Asking Questions

When interviewing a prospective home improvement contractor, don’t be afraid to ask a lot of questions, and make them the right questions.

Inquire about details of their contracting background and how it relates specifically to your project. For example, if your project includes a major overhaul of the deck and backyard, verify that they have experience managing landscaping projects.

Ask your potential renovation contractor how improvements might be made on your prospective plan and changes necessary to complete it under budget. An experienced contractor should be able to take a brief look through a plan and offer a number of practical suggestions.

When he presents you with a time estimate, always ask how that timeline was derived and what work will be completed in each phase. A knowledgeable contractor will have reasoning behind why he’s pegged this particular project at 6-8 weeks.

Finally, always ask to see a portfolio of previous work. The additional work to ensure you have an experienced and reliable home improvement contractor will be well worth the effort in the end.

About the Author:

For home improvement needs, such as replacement windows, flooring options and more, see http://www.home-improvement-needs.com.
Read more articles by: Bill McCowen
Article Source: www.iSnare.com
Permanent Link: http://www.isnare.com/?aid=210718&ca=Home+Management
Article published on December 21, 2007 at iSnare.com

Tips for Hiring a Home Improvement Contractor

by nkthen

Home improvement projects are often a challenge, and hiring a home improvement contractor often becomes necessary. Hiring a contractor for such projects might sound easy, but the contractor has to be hired with discretion and good judgment to achieve the best results.

A good home improvement contractor would be able to follow up a project from start to finish, and deliver the required results within a given time frame. But the challenge is to find such a contractor, and ensure a smooth deal, from hiring the contractor to handover. Some of these easy tips on hiring a contractor should help you with the process:

First and foremost, remember that hiring the first contractor you come across is not the best idea. You need a to shortlist a few likely contractor candidates before hiring the best out of them. Try to consider only those home improvement contractors who have been recommended by friends, colleagues or acquaintances.

In case such recommended contractors are fewer than you would like to choose from, ask other contractors for references from previous clients. Hiring a contractor who has been recommended online is also a great option. Check out and interact with all such references before hiring. A good tip is hiring a contractor who has done similar jobs before.

Before hiring the final contractor for the job, ask all the contractors in your shortlist to give you a formal bid for your project. Do not automatically choose the lowest bidder. Do your home work by asking about charges from people who have local experience in hiring such contractors and ask them for tips. Determine the cost of materials, fixtures and finishes that your contractor will use by visiting a home improvement store yourself.

While hiring a contractor, also ensure that he or she fulfils any licensing requirements of your state. The home improvement contractor should have established his credentials beyond any doubt, and have a good reputation. The contractor should also preferably carry insurance against issues like worker 's compensation, damage to property, and any personal liabilities.

Have a very clear, fixed idea of what sort of home improvement you need done before you start off with the contractor. The clearer you are in your mind, the better the contractor would understand you. It will also save you from unplanned costs incurred due to changes during the process of home improvement.

Once you have decided on your contractor, the hiring process should include the signing of a very clear contract with your home improvement contractor which would clearly state the materials to be used, the terms of demolition, required cleanup, and elimination of trash. The time frame for completion, payment terms, and release from any lien for any sub-contractors used should also be arranged to your mutual satisfaction.

Payment plans should be well thought out. Keep in mind that payment is the only leverage you can use to get the job done by the contractor according to your expectations. A good tip is to make final payments to the home improvement contractor only once you are happy with the finished job.

Hire a contractor you can get along with very well, because the contractor would be in your house for quite a duration. Hiring someone who would have the right amount of time to devote to your project is also crucial, because sometimes hiring an extra-busy contractor can turn out to be a mistake.

Hiring a contractor is often the best way to carry out major improvements in your home. With the help of these tips you should be able to hire a great contractor, and carry out your home improvements without a hitch.

About the Author

Get more FREE information written by Joseph Then at his website at Home Improvement Tips Website

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