08 Feb Knowing You’ve Found the Right Home Construction Contractor
When seeking advice for choosing a home construction contractor, you hear a lot of the same tips repeatedly. Don’t just accept the lowest bid. Check their references. Before you commit to hire someone to build your dream home or perform a major remodeling project, you need to dig deeper and make sure it’s the right fit for you.
There’s always more than one construction contractor who can do the work competently for a reasonable price. Here’s how to know you’ve found the right contractor.
Watch for Listening Skills
Communication is key in construction. More importantly, it’s a two-way street. When you walk out of an interview with a prospective home construction contractor, you shouldn’t feel like you just got talked at for an hour or interrupted whenever you spoke.
If a contractor seems to be reading off a script when you interview him or her, you shouldn’t expect personal attention and care during the project.
Bounce ideas and notice if the contractor seems to be listening, receptive, and responsive in a way that instills confidence.
Be Comfortable with the Contract
Each home construction contractor you talk to might have similar estimates, but with different contract types: cost plus, unit price, fixed price, time and material, or hybrids of those.
Cost calculations can vary quite a bit for each type. There’s probably one best contract type for you and your situation. How likely are you to request changes after building begins? Do you want to incentivize the home construction contractor to finish the job early?
Know the options and find a construction contractor that is happy to work for the contract type you prefer. All parties will be more comfortable, and the project will feel much smoother and more productive.
Find Someone Who Can Do More than You Need
Just as you wouldn’t want to be a surgeon’s first patient, you don’t want your project to be a far reach for the construction contractor.
Need kitchen remodeling? Choose an accomplished home builder, not a plumber, and you know the principal has experience in every aspect of the work. For new homes, look at similar and larger projects that your home construction contractor has completed.
Understand the Contractor’s Business
Ask how many homes they build in a year, or how many projects they have going at one time. A busy construction contractor might manage several things at once, in which case the next question should be about who your point of contact would be. How do you know your project won’t be abandoned for weeks at a time, and that your questions and requests won’t get lost in the shuffle?
This is why you can’t base your choice only on a beautiful portfolio. The fact that a construction contractor builds some fantastic homes doesn’t guarantee that every project goes splendidly. Make sure you know how your project fits into the contractor’s overall schedule moving forward.
Know What Motivates Your Contractor
Some builders earn their living with speedy work, others with quality. The best construction contractor will emphasize the right balance. Don’t confuse low prices with efficiency and don’t assume a builder who does luxurious work can complete the project on budget.
Find out what drives your construction contractor and what they consider to be the best-case scenario on their end. Make sure you’re on the same page, so that you don’t have competing forces causing tension during the project.
Our Approach to Home Construction Contractor Services
The team here at McNeil Construction and Remodeling Inc. emphasize communication, efficiency and top-notch quality in everything we do. We listen to our clients and always put your needs and wants first. The client’s vision dictates what we do, and it’s our job to create a surefire plan to achieve that vision.
The best experience with your construction contractor starts with a conversation. Contact us to request a consultation for home construction, additions, or remodeling projects in Sonoma County.
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