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Home » Consumer Information » House & Home

Hiring A Contractor

If you're hiring a contractor to do repairs in your home, you want to be sure that they're competent enough to complete the job with the utmost quality and care.

Hiring A Home Contractor

Use this list of questions as a guideline to selecting the best contractor:

Does the contractor lack the experience to perform the task at hand?

Around 80 percent of current contractors have been fully trained in new construction techniques, and they expand their knowledge with projects they encounter along the way. If the renovation includes work on an existing home, verify that the contractor has the experience necessary so that your house does not become a contractor's classroom. This is even more important if the given home is considered historical architecture. Does the contractor have a prior relationship with the architect or workers on the job?

A contractor and architect who have a history of working together will make the entire renovation process run much more efficiently. Communication should not be an issue between the two. Are you able to have an ongoing dialog with your contractor?

Any contractor worth the price should readily communicate back and forth with the client. If the contractor constantly ignores your questions and responds with lines like, “I know exactly what you want done,” be careful of the situation you're getting yourself into. Consider questioning former clients about the contractor's ability and willingness to communicate before you sign any paperwork Has the contractor worked on homes like yours in the past?

Home and commercial construction have vastly different rules and regulations. Verify that your contractor is fully aware of all local building and safety codes. If the contractor is not uptight or attempting to hide anything, they should have no problem allowing you to tour some of their previous work. Examine the quality of the finer points such as the trim work. This will give you an idea the contractor's overall attention to detail. How quickly can the contractor begin work, and how much time will the contractor be able to allot to your project?

You may have your dream contractor in mind, but they could be booked solid for months. If you find yourself on a waiting list, you must decide if that particular contractor is worth a delay in your repair or renovation process. Also, remember that contractors sometimes have a brief window until a new project is scheduled to start. In that type of case, ask yourself if it is worth it to possibly hire a contractor who will have to rush to get the job done. Does the contractor stand behind their work?

A good contractor should have no problem doing whatever has to be done to ensure customer satisfaction. Before any work begins, find out what kind of, if any, guarantees the contractor offers on the sort of labor being done on our home. How does the contractor want to be paid?

Keep in mind that the best contractor is not always the most expensive. There are three methods of renovation and repair fees:

Guaranteed maximum price (GMP) - The contractor provides the client with a maximum price and pledges that the project will be completed within that range.

Bid or stipulated sum - A set price is stated for a defined job. Any money saved throughout the course of work goes to the contractor, while changes to the initial plan are charged to the client. Cost plus fixed fee contract - Every invoice is submitted to the client, and the client is responsible for paying the labor and material costs in addition to a flat rate.