With home repairs or improvements, numerous people find themselves at a loss because they are either incapable of completing the repairs themselves or they simply do not have the time to do it. In both situation, the best thing to do is to hire a professional residential general contractor. All The Same, you must know what qualities should you look for in a general contractor. Also, how can you be sure that he/she will be the best person for the task? Here are some routine inquiries and should be answered before hiring a professional residential general contractor.
Below are 9 tips that will help take you through the procedure of selecting the best person for the job.
1) Experience: Learn how long they have been in business. It’s best to look for an legitimate person/company and be sure to find out their reputation with the local Better Business Bureau for any unresolved or outstanding complaints.
2) Licensed: Always make sure that a general contractor is licensed to work in your state where the work will to be done. Contact your local building section and/or consumer protection agency to check on your state’s procedure for licensing. And always ask to see the license prior to hiring them for the task.
3) Specialty: When interviewing a potential residential general contractor, ask for a list of projects that have been recently completed. These projects should be similar to the one you want service for.. Hiring a residential general contractor that is experienced in the area to yours will ensure that all goes smoothly and that the job will be done right. They should have some type of specialty and not a “Jack of all trades.”
4) Permits: No matter how small you think a project may be, always ask your general contractor when they are assessing the job whether or not the job will require any type of permit. All permits must be acquired before anyl work begins. If you overlook this or neglect to obtain any necessary permits, you, the homeowner, may face a outstanding and regretable fine. Discuss with your contractor who will be responsible for acquiring such permits before you sign your agreement. Make sure that is stated in your agreement as well.
5) Project Manager: Always ask for the name of the personale who will be in charge of the project. They are most likely to be a supervisor. There will be people in and out of your home so it is well advised to also ask for all the names of those who will be working on the construction crew.
6) Crew and Workers: Once you know about the supervisor, you need to ask him/her about their crew. You absolutely want to know whether or not they are dependable and make the conclusion as to whether you want them working on/in your house. Ask if they will need keys? If so, you need to know that they are honest and can be trusted near your family and/or children.
7) Insurance: Every legitimate professional residential general contractor will carry a certain amount of insurance coverage, including the basics of personal liability and property damage. You will need to request copies of all insurance policies and confirm that they are current before signing agreement. Do not do business with a contractor who cannot offer this documentation. This may result in your being liable for any injuries and/or damages that occur during the project.
References: Always check with the contractor’s previous jobs before deciding to hire him/her for your project. This is essential for all of the apparent reasons. Thence, giving you an idea as to their work ethics and final results.
9) Contract/Agreement: When you and your residential general contractor come to an agreement on payment terms, get everything in writing and have the agreement signed and notarized. All parties involved should have a copy of the agreement for future reference.
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