Hiring the Right Contractor for your Home Improvement Project

Home improvement projects can be overwhelming. One way to make it easier on yourself is by making sure you pick the right contractor for the job. A stranger will be in and out of your house during the course of your project. You want to invest in someone who’s trustworthy and gives peace of mind to you and your family. Here are some things to check for and to be wary of when you’re looking to hire a professional for your home improvement project.

How to find a good contractor:

  • Get referrals from friends and family.
  • Make sure to conduct thorough online research.
  • Go in knowing what you want before you start asking for estimates.
  • Do over the phone followed by face to face interviews so you can put a face to the name of the person who’s going to be working in and out of your house.
  • Don’t let price be your only deciding factor, don’t forget that price does not always equal quality.
  • Get everything in writing – pricing, start and finish dates, etc. This makes it easier to follow up and fight a case if worst case scenario your contractor starts the job and disappears before finishing.
  • Verify with the contractor which part of the work they will be doing and which parts a subcontractor will do.
  • Before you make the final payments get receipts for all materials purchased.

Things to Check for:

  • You want to check and make sure your contractor has a license and insured in your state.
  • If you’re getting work done on your walls or pipes, check to make sure your contractor is EPA Lead-Safe
  • Check the references of anyone you interview for the job.
  • Length of the warranty that comes with the job and what the warranty covers in totality.

Things to be wary of:

  • The contractor is unable to give you a demo or actually show you what they’re going to be installing.
  • Your contractor can’t provide you with the written warranty or estimate.
  • The contractor tries to sell you on either the cheapest or the most expensive material without consideration for the quality.
These are a few tips to help you navigate hiring for your home improvement projects. A smooth process is a win for everyone involved.