Hiring a Contractor

When you decide you want to have work done to your home most people hire out. Not many of us are talented enough to pour our own concrete or add pavers to our backyard. Getting multiple bids and deciding on a contractor is extremely important. Probably the most important part of the project. Two important questions you should ask before price is discussed: Are you a licensed contractor? If yes, ask for their license number. This license should be in their name. Not in the name of a family member or a friend. This proves they studied the field they are in and they know what they are doing. Do you have liability and workers compensation insurance? Ask to see a certificate of insurance. Again this should be in their name, not in the name of a family member or friend. And if they do not have workers compensation insurance, they should be doing the work 100% by themselves. Once you have established the contractor and his insurance is legit, explain to him what you would like to have done. Discuss with the contractor what you would like to have done. Ask questions, make sure he answers them so that YOU understand. Have him use laymen terms. If you don’t understand what he is going to do, you could end up with something you did not want. A lot of contractors provide estimates on the spot. They provide estimates regularly and are usually pretty quick to walk out the door. Make sure you understand the scope of work they are proposing. Make sure the price you receive includes all of the material. The scope of work defines what the contractor is doing for you. Make sure it covers all the things you want completed. It should also spell out any prep work, clean up, etc. What is not included in the estimate? Sometimes a contractor must make allowances or assumptions in their bid, such as material quantity, access to your home. Also, they will sometimes specify what they exclude in the bid. Some contractors wont provide trenching, or prep work. Carefully review assumptions and exclusions with the contractor. Question them as to the reasonableness of any assumptions and exclusions. Do it in a nice way, but do it. If you feel the contractor is getting upset about your questions, he probably is not the one you want doing the work. Does the bid include incentives? Does it provide an outline of service work that might be needed in the future? How much does it cost to service the system yearly? Price Make sure the price that you are given is well broken down on your invoice. You want to clearly understand what you are buying. If it is not clear ask them to itemize it for you. I never make a selection based on price. The old saying is very true. “You get what you pay for” What are the payment terms? Most contractors like a 10% deposit and the remaining 90% upon completion. If the deposit is more than 30% I would ask why. Is he ordering parts? Are the parts on his truck? Why does he need more than 30%? And always, always ask for a paid invoice. The best way to choose a contractor is to get multiple bids. Ask each of them the same questions. If your gut tells you he is not the one, DON’T SIGN.