How To Choose a General Contractor
How to choose a general contractor. Most homeowners and commercial property managers know there are plenty of important questions they need to ask potential contractors. However, they sometimes may have trouble knowing exactly which questions are crucial to the hiring process. Some important questions that definitely should be asked are:
#1 “How long have you been in this business?”
Contracting businesses that have been in operation for many years are often more efficient with their operations. They have had time to work through a lot of the growing pains that many companies deal with in their fledgling years.
Companies with experience have created processes and controls to ensure their work is on time, on budget and of the highest quality.
While companies that have been in business for many years may offer certain benefits, some consumers may opt to go with someone who has years of experience in the industry but is a relatively new business owner.
Most home improvement and commercial property improvement business owners were in the trade at some point before starting their business, so they have technical experience.
If your instincts are telling you to go with a contractor who fits this bill, consider starting him off with a smaller project. If after that you’re satisfied with his technical, service and business skills, you can both move on to something larger.
Do your research ahead of time on any contractor you’re thinking of working with. If you find anything that makes you worry, ask about it. Ultimately, contractors prefer that you voice your concerns so they have an opportunity to address them rather than take them out of the running.
#2 “Can I see your certificate of insurance?”
Asking a contractor if he’s insured isn’t as telling as seeing how he is insured. Contractors should have both workers’ compensation and liability insurance specifically for the type of job they perform. Taking a look at certificates of insurance will give you the peace of mind that he’s not insured in an entirely different capacity than the job you’re hiring him for.
#3 “Will you obtain the permits and set up the inspections required for this job?”
Not every job requires permits or inspections. However, most remodeling projects that in some way change the structure of the home do. Your contractor should not only know what kind of permits you need and how to get them, but also be willing to pull them for you.
This is not meant to be an end all list. There are many other important questions to that you should ask your contractor before hiring them. The key is communication between contractors and homeowners or commercial property owners is important. You should also be prepared for contractors to have their own list of questions to ask you.
A contractor that asks questions is trying to uncover what you really want. This is much better than someone that just nods and agrees with anything you say. They’re not really diagnosing the problem and getting to the heart of what you need.
An open dialogue helps ensure that both parties are staying on top of the project, and are setting clear and reasonable expectations of how the project will go.
Customers and contractors both have to be fair with one another, and your expectations have to be realistic. At the end of the day, it’s in the contractor’s best interest to be honest and trustworthy. They want you to recommend them to other potential clients. The stability of a contractor’s business is based on repeat business from happy clients.
Ready to choose a general contractor? Need help with a home remodel project or a multi-family apartment renovation? Call Plano General Contractor Jerry Brown at JBJ Restoration (469) 543-9540 .
