Home Improvement – Points to Factor Before Recruiting Contractors

05 Apr Home Improvement – Points to Factor Before Recruiting Contractors

When searching for home improvement contractors, locating licensed and experienced contractors is only the beginning. On the path to whittling down your prospective contractors to the perfect fit, you will need to carefully examine their skills and expertise as well as the finer points of their estimates.

Here are some of the most important factors to consider when weighing your options between home improvement contractors:

For Any Type of Home Improvement Project Management Skills Are King

Beautiful portfolios and decades of experience look great on paper and should absolutely be taken into consideration. However, home improvement contractors are project managers first and foremost.

To get that beautiful new kitchen, you are not hiring a tile layer — you are hiring the best contractor to manage the project. When vetting home improvement contractors, focus on the kinds of projects they have overseen and their success relative to your project’s goals.

What It Means to “Get What You Pay For”

When you ask several home improvement contractors for estimates, the different prices do not necessarily mean that some of them are asking for larger profit margins than others.

Price differences will show up in various forms: the skill level and pay rate of his or her subcontractors, materials being substituted with or without your knowledge, or the speed to completion, to name a few.

By all means, choose the bid that feels right. Just remember that a $30,000 estimate and a $50,000 estimate each has their merits, and each quote is probably accurate for the quality of the work.

Choose a Contract — Not Just a Contractor

Home improvement contractors may prefer different types of contracts, ranging from lump sum to time and materials plus a fee. Equally important to feeling comfortable with the contractor, you should feel comfortable with the contract.

Fixed price contracts provide certainty; just make sure to add language stipulating non-negotiable materials and labor methods or else cheaper substitutions may be made. Cost plus contracts work well for projects that may need changes along the way. In that case you’ll want to agree to completion dates and your approval for changes.

Always Be Prepared and Inquisitive

Before speaking with home improvement contractors, research the costs and special considerations for the renovations you have in mind. You will get more accurate estimates and start with a better idea of what you need from home improvement contractors when you are prepared going in.

That said, the contractor recruiting process is the best time for questions. You want the contractor to captain the project once the contract is signed — but until then, make no assumptions about what is going to happen and ask questions to allay any concerns.

You Are the Boss

As the client, you are both the customer and the boss. Look for home improvement contractors that develop good rapport with you and feel like stakeholders in your project. Even if you want to check into a hotel and be un-involved with the daily tasks associated with the project, you should feel like you have good communication and a healthy working relationship with the contractor.

If you are looking for home improvement contractors in the San Francisco area, contact us for more information about our services. McNeil Construction is a full-service builder, remodeler, and historic restoration team that execute customized projects in a professional manner.