Renovating or remodeling areas of your home is a great way inject fresh life into old spaces and improve the appearance of your home while raising property value.  These projects are often big projects and usually require a level of expertise to ensure that they are done right.  While doing remodeling and renovation projects yourself may save you some money, you may not have the expertise or equipment to do the job properly or you may make a mistake that will end up costing you later.

If you want to remodel your kitchen, bathroom, or any other area in your home, it may be worth the cost to hire a professional contractor.  Remodeling contractors have the expertise and equipment to handle any remodeling project and they will manage the scheduling, permits, materials, and inspection.  However, there are remodeling contractors out there who may not have the expertise they claim or follow protocols the way they should.  When hiring a remodeling contractor, you must make sure that you are hiring a trusted professional that can provide quality work.

In this guide, we cover the steps you should take to ensure that you hire a reputable contractor that provides quality work.

Know Your Vision

Before looking for a contractor, it is important to determine exactly what you want for your project.  Think about what area you want to remodel, your goals for the remodel, how you want it to look, and the features you want to add that are not in the space currently.  The more you define your vision, the easier it will be to discuss your vision with different contractors which will help you determine which contractor is the best for the job.

Get Recommendations and Check Reviews

Search for local contractors online on Google and other website like Yelp, Angi, Houzz, RestorationMaster, Home Advisor or BBB. Look for contractors who have:
– many reviews
– recent reviews
– 5-star reviews.

Before you start reaching out to contractors, ask around for recommendations.  Reach out to friends and family who have recently had remodeling work done to find out who they worked with and ask about their experience.  If you know someone who regularly works with contractors such as a building inspector or property manager, ask them for recommendations.  You can also check the National Association of the Remodeling Industry to see which businesses in your area are members.

Call Contractors to Talk Over the Phone

Once you have a list of contractors to contact, call each of them to discuss your project.  Asking the following questions will help you get a better idea of the types of projects they can handle, their availability, and the quality of their work:

• Will you do this type of project?
• Can you provide references from previous clients?
• What is our availability for this project?
• How long have you been working on these types of projects?
• How long have you worked with your subcontractors?

Meet in Person

After talking to the contractors over the phone, choose 3-4 contractors to meet with in person to further discuss the details of your project.  They should be able to provide you with clear answers that give you a good idea of how they will manage your project. These contractors will also be spending hours in your home completing the work which makes it even more important to meet them in person first.

Get Estimates

When meeting with the contractors, get estimates from at least three of them.  Comparing the estimates will help you determine the fairest cost for your project and give you some idea of the quality of their work.  When getting estimates, ask each contractor to break down the costs of materials, labor, profit margins, and any other potential expenses.  They should also provide blueprints and describe the specific tasks that will be done such as demolition, installation, and cleanup.

If you accept a bid from a contractor, they will ask for an upfront fee that will go towards the total cost of the project.  Try to avoid contractors that ask for cash payments or payments in full for the entire project upfront.  Some contractors may also offer a bid on a “cost-plus” basis which includes charges for materials, time and labor, and an overhead fee.  If you work with a contractor that offers this type of bid, there should be a cap to prevent the cost from going over a certain amount.

Do a Background Check on the Contractors and their Previous Work

Once you have gotten estimates from a few different contractors, do some research on the contractor and their previous projects.  You can start by making sure the contractors are properly licensed and insured.  You can check with your state’s licensing board to ensure that they are properly licensed.  You should also be able to obtain insurance information and see if any of the contractors have past or pending legal actions against them.

Look into their previous work as well and investigate their work habits.  If you have the contact information from pervious clients, ask them about the process and work habits of the contractors and ask if you can see their work in person.  Paying attention to little things like how quickly the prospective contractors return your calls and how well they keep appointments will also give you a good idea of their level of professionalism.

Select the Best Contractor for the Job

Price should not be the only factor you consider when choosing a contractor, you should also factor in professionalism, how well they communicate, and quality of work.  Sometimes a slightly hire estimate is reflective of the quality of work provided by the contractor.

It is also a good idea to agree to a payment schedule before signing a contract.  Most remodeling projects should start with a fee of around 10 percent upfront when the contract is signed and consist of several payments throughout the duration of the project, followed, by a final payment when the project is completed.  Be wary of contractors that want half or more of the cost of the project upfront.

Set Some Ground Rules

Before signing a contract, set some boundaries for the project.  You should take steps to protect your property, including asking for background checks for the workers who will be in your home and establishing some rules for parking, using the bathroom, and any other concerns you have about your property.

It is also very important to have a plan in place to resolve any conflicts that may arise between you and the contractor.  Unexpected issues may pop up during the remodeling process and it is beneficial for both sides to have a written agreement about how to deal with these issues.  The agreement should include a plan to handle changes in the remodeling plan and the costs involved, as well as potential disputes such as damage to property or failure of the contractor to meet the standards of the agreement.

Create a Contract

Now that you have chosen your contractor and discussed the above-mentioned issues pertaining to costs, ground rules, and how to resolve potential issues, it is time to put it in writing with a contract.  The contract should include all matters previously discussed, including fees and how they will be paid, description of the work provided by the contractor, timelines for the projects, how to manage changes in the plan, how to settle disputes, and who is responsible for building permits and fees.  Make sure you are familiar with and understand all terms in the contract before signing.

Hiring a Remodeling Contractor – FAQ

Do I need a contractor to remodel my house?

Homeowners who have the expertise and equipment can take a DIY approach to remodeling their home.  However, DIY home remodeling projects tend to take longer and if they are not done properly, this could cause more costly problems in the future.

Hiring a professional contractor may be worth the cost as these professionals can manage the planning, scheduling, permits, gathering of materials, and execution of the project in less time than it will take you to do the project yourself.

How do I find a remodeling contractor?

Start by looking for contractors in your area and asking around for recommendations.  You can ask friends or family members who have recently had remodeling work done and check online reviews for various contractors from previous clients.  Make a short list of contractors and reach out to them to discuss your project and get estimates.

Next, do some research on each contractor by contacting former clients and seeing examples of their previous work in person.  You should also check to see if they are properly licensed and ensured.  Once you have gathered and considered all of this information, accept a bid from your preferred contractor and work with them to create a contract for your project that includes timelines, work to be completed, payment plans, and how to manage changes in the plan or disputes.

Find a Contractor on RestorationMasterFinder.com

A home remodeling project can revitalize your home while boosting property values.  When looking for a professional contractor to help with your remodeling project, make sure you follow the steps listed above to find a contractor that provides quality work within your budget.

Unfortunately, not all remodeling is done by choice.  Natural disasters such as floods, fires, storms, and mold growth can cause significant damage to homes that requires extensive restoration and repair.  RestorationMasterFinder.com is a website run by RestorationMaster that helps put people in contact with trusted disaster restoration providers in their area.  If your home or business has recently experienced unexpected damage from a natural disaster, you can quickly find a reputable, local disaster restoration contractor.

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Contractors of all types rely on generating good leads to secure new contracts and grow their business.  If your contracting business is having a hard time generating quality leads, RestorationMaster can help.  At RestorationMaster, we generate high quality leads for disaster restoration businesses, including water damage leads and fire damage leads, through our website RestorationMasterFinder.com.

We generate leads with highly optimized, geo-based micro-sites that attract relevant local search traffic.  The calls we generate go directly to your business, so you do not have to compete with other contractors for leads.  For more about our lead generation services, call us at (888) 915-7197.