Hiring a Contractor
When hiring a contractor there are many things to consider. Obviously cost is important, but there are other equally, if not more important factors. Value for your money, is what you ideally want to achieve, i.e. you feel you have received a quality product and service for a fair price. There is an old saying in construction, "The sweetness of a good price is long forgotten after the sour taste of a poor job!".
Qualifications, experience, licenses, and references are important points to consider when trying to determine which contractor is right for the job. If you feel a contractor is reputable and will stand behind their workmanship it is often worth a little more. Selecting on price alone will, more often than not, lead to a lesser quality of work and a job that is not guaranteed. This is usually because the contractor believes the low price they quoted is good enough on its own or they may have gone out of business because they never achieved a reasonable profit on their work.
When receiving more than one quote from what you feel are quality firms, the next most important factor is to ensure the work scopes are the same and all estimates are based on similar materials both in quality and quantity. The quotes should also provide detailed estimates outlining exactly what is included and what is not, as well as terms and conditions of the warranties. If there are material selections to be made at a later date, or undecided at the time of the bid, ensure an allowance figure is included or you may receive a big surprise when your contractor says, "I never allowed for that in my price!".
If one quote seems excessively high or low it usually means the estimate is not based on the same work of materials. Contact the contractor at this point and ask why; there may well be good reason.
Once you have made an initial decision based on price and workscope, you should inquire if the contractors experience and qualifications fit the type of project you are undertaking. There are a lot of excellent home builders with little or no experience in renovation or restoration work (there is a big difference). Ask for references and follow up, if you don't receive the references you request, you may want to reconsider.
Finally, you should ensure the contractor carries all necessary licenses and insurance to carry out the project. The contract should be on company letterhead and signed by a representative of the company. Contracts should also outline payment terms, conditions, as well as who pays for any hidden work and how change orders will be handled. A start and completion date may also be necessary in some instances.
Clear and honest communication between all parties can make even the longest project a little more palatable.
When hiring a contractor there are many things to consider. Obviously cost is important, but there are other equally, if not more important factors. Value for your money, is what you ideally want to achieve, i.e. you feel you have received a quality product and service for a fair price. There is an old saying in construction, "The sweetness of a good price is long forgotten after the sour taste of a poor job!".
Qualifications, experience, licenses, and references are important points to consider when trying to determine which contractor is right for the job. If you feel a contractor is reputable and will stand behind their workmanship it is often worth a little more. Selecting on price alone will, more often than not, lead to a lesser quality of work and a job that is not guaranteed. This is usually because the contractor believes the low price they quoted is good enough on its own or they may have gone out of business because they never achieved a reasonable profit on their work.
When receiving more than one quote from what you feel are quality firms, the next most important factor is to ensure the work scopes are the same and all estimates are based on similar materials both in quality and quantity. The quotes should also provide detailed estimates outlining exactly what is included and what is not, as well as terms and conditions of the warranties. If there are material selections to be made at a later date, or undecided at the time of the bid, ensure an allowance figure is included or you may receive a big surprise when your contractor says, "I never allowed for that in my price!".
If one quote seems excessively high or low it usually means the estimate is not based on the same work of materials. Contact the contractor at this point and ask why; there may well be good reason.
Once you have made an initial decision based on price and workscope, you should inquire if the contractors experience and qualifications fit the type of project you are undertaking. There are a lot of excellent home builders with little or no experience in renovation or restoration work (there is a big difference). Ask for references and follow up, if you don't receive the references you request, you may want to reconsider.
Finally, you should ensure the contractor carries all necessary licenses and insurance to carry out the project. The contract should be on company letterhead and signed by a representative of the company. Contracts should also outline payment terms, conditions, as well as who pays for any hidden work and how change orders will be handled. A start and completion date may also be necessary in some instances.
Clear and honest communication between all parties can make even the longest project a little more palatable.
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