Tag: construction projects

Hiring a remodeling company is one of the toughest things to do when it comes to wanting your dream remodel to turn into a reality. The reason is because you must interview several companies and ask the right questions to drill down and pick the right contractor that you can hire and trust. But do you really know what questions are needed to be asked? How does one really validate choosing the right contractor to do the job and get it done the way you want? These are only nuggets of a series of questions that run through the minds of those who want to get remodels done to their homes.

First: Planning Your Remodel. This is the only way the project is going to be worry-free. You must do your homework and diligently research the design options that are available for the area that you want to get remodeled. Without knowing what you want, then how will you really be satisfied with the finished product? You can’t. The Internet is full of images of complete remodels for anything that you have in mind. Search the Internet. Look through Remodeling magazine. Get an idea of what you want before you speak with any construction company in your area.

Second: Finding and Qualifying the Right Contractor. Looking through the Yellow Pages or searching for construction companies in online directories does get quite exhausting. But it is imperative to go through certain steps in order to filter the good contractors from the bad and unreliable contractors. For example, you MUST look for these features before hiring any contractor:

1. Ask for a list of references: References are not all the same. There are four types of references you should examine: Clients beyond three years; Clients within the past three years; Clients within the past 12 months, or a current job in progress; Also check with the county seat to find if a contractor has been named in any law suits.

2. Contact their references: Anybody can provide references. But determining on the validity of the references is vital. Call the references and ask questions to get a feel of how the construction company’s performance was towards their project.

3. Communication is VITAL! Simple. If you do not feel comfortable right from the beginning with your contractor, then save yourself the headache and move onto the next. Remember, you don’t get a second chance to make a first impression. You will need to communicate with your contractor in regards to progress updates throughout the performance of your project.

4. Ask for their credentials: If the construction company you are interviewing fails to show you a valid license, is not bonded nor insured, you must move on to the next interview.

5. Get a copy of their contract before signing anything: Contracts run the world that we live in. Sometimes, we bind ourselves into agreements that we wish we never agreed to. Obtain a copy of the contract before signing anything so that you may know what you’re getting yourself into.

Third: Home Sweet Home Improvement. It is customary to leave a waiter at a restaurant a gratuity tip after serving your table. After project completion, it is only necessary to write a testimonial based on your feedback of the project and how it turned out. Show the construction company a little bit of appreciation as a lot of hard work from the company and their employees has gone into your project. Then, sit back and relax in your newly remodeled home and love every moment!