Questions to Find a Reputable Contractor

Your home improvement project, either large or small, is a serious matter. That is particularly true for exterior improvements (i.e., siding, windows, entry doors and additions/modifications to your home). When you find the right contractor, you will save a lot of time, money and headaches and actually make the process an enjoyable experience. The following are a few questions that you may ask prospective home remodeling contractors in your search for the right, reputable home contractor for your project:

- "How many years has your company been in business?"
- "What is your experience with the products you are offering? How many projects have you completed with these products?"
- "What is your Company's Better Business Bureau rating and your Angie's List record?"
- "Have you won competitive awards within your industry? By whom and how meaningful?"
- "Can you show me references? May I contact any of them?"
- "Can you show me projects you have completed in my local area that may be similar to ours?"
- "What is your installation warranty (in addition to the product warranty)?"
- "What differentiates you from your competition?"
- "What is your customer-care policy after the job is completed?"
- "Do you offer design services and do you take care of municipal permits?"
- "Can you handle large exterior projects, e.g., deck, gutters, gutter guards, complex accessories, architectural designs, patio rooms, room additions, designer concrete? What is you experience with these?"
- "Are your installation crews employees of your company (or do you sub-contract)?"
- "Are you lead-safe certified?"

Should You Go With the Lowest Bidder?

Lowest price is an alluring way to choose a home remodeling contractor. When comparing estimates, make sure that you are comparing apples-to-apples. There are many features and characteristics that can be different among the myriad of products available. The price quoted for the project should include all aspects of the job:

- The products with defined styles, products and accessories
- Any special circumstances with either the products and/or the installation
- The warranty for both the products and the installation

A good proposal will be thorough, complete and clearly written thereby minimizing possible later misunderstandings. Make sure you know the products that are being used and that they will be installed in accordance with the manufacturers installation specifications.

Review the warranty information carefully. Ask for explanations of price variations between contractors and, above all, do not automatically choose the lowest bidder. You may find after close examination, higher prices may be justified to suit your needs and the overall objectives of your home improvement project.

The Magic of Room Additions

There is a growing quest for most homeowners and their families who have outgrown their homes to simply have a room addition done rather than sell their homes and buy a bigger one. The hassles of going through a house sale and packing half-a- lifetime worth of treasures and junk is simply too much to handle. It goes without saying that selling an old house and buying a "new" house would most likely mean relocating to a new neighborhood or a new town. Most homeowners would prefer to just add rooms or spaces that they need.

A family of 5 living in a house built for three would definitely find the small house cramped and stifling. If this is the case then you need an additional bedroom or two for your growing family. You might also find the need to provide an extra guest room as preparation for those unexpected overnight guests say, your mother-in-law (?)

There is just not enough space for all the extra stuff that you and your family have acquired over the years. The attic or the basement is brimming with boxes of old things and memorabilia that you just cannot part with. If only you have an extra storage room in the house then you could convert the attic into an extra bedroom or your home office. If only you can extend the utility room for bigger storage then you can convert the basement into your dream entertainment or media room.

The Hard Part! Comparing Bids!

This may be the hardest part of the entire process but it is also the one that has the biggest rewards.  After you have received all the information from different home remodeling contractors you are ready to find the one that is best for you!

This is where your initial homework starts to pay off. Each estimate your receive needs to be in writing and it should have a specific scope of work that mirrors the information that you provided them. And in most cases the estimate will have more detail. If the Contractor's estimate is vague and lacking specific details relating to the work, this is a Contractor that you may want to pass on. If you accept an estimate that does not specifically describe the work that the Contractor is proposing to complete, you are leaving yourself open to costly "Change Orders" at the discretion of the Contractor. It's not a good position for you, as a homeowner, to put yourself in. So keep in mind, it's your responsibility as a homeowner to make sure the Contractor has a complete understanding of the work you want completed and it must be conveyed in writing on the estimate.

Once you have established that each estimate is for the same scope of work, let's now look at each price. When it comes to remodeling, the saying "You get what you pay for" is a good guideline but it definitely doesn't mean that a more expensive bid is your best choice. For example, you could have (2) bids that are somewhat higher than your budget and a lower bid that may be a little less than your budget. Most of us would automatically consider the lowest estimate initially but we have to figure out why that Contractor's bid is much lower than the other two. Below are some questions you need to ask each bidder.

- Did the Contractor omit a portion of the scope of work? If so, have them revise the estimate.
- Does the Estimate include having the Contractor prepare architectural drawings, if necessary?
- Are they using lesser quality materials (paint, cabinets, tile, etc.)?
- How long will it take to complete the work?
- Are they insured with a General Liability policy?
- Can they provide a minimum of 5 to 10 references from previous projects?
- Are permits necessary and if so, is the cost included in the estimate?
- Is the Contractor willing to let you visit several of their jobs?
- What type of Warranty does the Contractor provide?

Organizing Your Ideas for Your Contractor

Step 1 - Organize your Ideas

The first and probably the most important step is to do a little research yourself to find out how much the work you want could cost.  There are many resources available, such as:  the internet, library, or other family and/or friends who have had similar work done.  Doing this helps start the project off on the right foot.

Your goal is to get several estimates or bids that are all based on the same scope of work; apples to apples if you will. You have to be able to provide the remodeling Contractor with enough information so they can prepare an estimate that meets your goals and you must provide each Contractor with the same scope of work. If not, the pricing that you get from each Contractor will be very difficult to interpret which could slow you down and ultimately cost you more money. The last thing you want is a home remodeling Contractor that is going to "Change Order" you until your pocket book has dried up. So, try to finalize as many of the details as possible.

This means that you, the Homeowner, must put all of your ideas and scope on paper including photocopies of pictures, any layouts, designs, sketches, etc. And never give your originals away because you may not see them again.

Talk to Several Contractors, Not Just One!

It's be really easy to just find one contractor that you like to do your home project.  It's even easier to get several bids and just pick the lowest priced one.  However, this is a serious mistake and gets your home project off on a terrible start.  You need to shop around for home remodeling contractors and find one that provides quality and affordability.

Look for Contractors affiliated with the Better Business Bureau, National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA), National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) or any other local building or remodeling association. Look at each Contractors website to see what type of work they perform. What are their specialties? And if they do not have a website, you should be cautious if you decide to contract with them.

The most organized Homeowners form a typed copy of a basic scope of work with copies of any pictures, layouts, designs, sketches, etc. And it's easy for the home remodeling contractor because they know exactly what you want!

During your meetings with each Contractor, hand over your information that you compiled and walk the job with each of them. Be prepared to answer numerous questions. Some will be easy to answer and others may need some additional research on your part. Either way, try to stick with your initial scope of work and do not deviate. You want the bids to be apples to apples and changing the scope during your meeting with the Contractor will only make it more difficult for you to interpret the figures on each bid. You can always adjust the scope after the estimates are gathered and you have narrowed down the potential Contractors.

Ask each Contractor how long it will take them to prepare the estimate and make sure they honor those dates. If they don't, that should be a red flag.