How to Find a Reliable Home Contractor

Most homeowners don’t find the hard part of a home renovation difficult. It’s finding a reliable and competent contractor to complete the project. It’s easy to install kitchen cabinets or knock down walls, but it can be difficult to find a reliable contractor who will do a great job from start-to-finish. There are many stories that serves a guide about horrible contractors who took apart the kitchen, never returned, or that cost three times what the original estimate.

Get Recommendations

Begin with family members and friends, then contact the National Association of the Remodeling Industry to find a list of members near you. Talk to a building inspector who will know which contractors are compliant with code.

Meet Face to Face

Based on your phone interviews, choose three to four contractors to meet with you for an estimate and further discussion. You should feel comfortable asking questions and feeling at ease. Tom suggests that communication is key because the contractor will be visiting your home for many hours at a stretch. Don’t let your personality fool you. Before you hire a contractor, make sure to check with your state’s consumer agency and the Better Business Bureau.

Make Plans

Now you have a short list of contractors with clean track records and a work ethic that is responsible. It’s now time to look forward and not back at the past. Contractors will need to have a set of blueprints, as well as a good idea of the homeowners’ expectations and budget. Ask everyone to breakdown the costs of materials, labor and profit margins in order to compare bids. Materials account for 40% of total costs. Overhead and the typical profit margin are 15 to 20%.

Set a Payment Schedule

A payment schedule is another important tip when hiring contractors. A contractor’s work ethic and financial situation can be reflected in their payment schedules. They may ask for half of the bid upfront, or they might be concerned that you won’t pay the remainder after they have seen the work. A schedule for large projects usually includes 10 percent at contract sign, three equal payments of 25% over the project’s duration, and a check for the remaining 15% when you feel that all items on the punchlist have been completed.