When you pick a general contractor to remodel your home you’re entering into a long relationship. Make sure it’s the right one for you.

When you’re working on a home remodeling project, having quality work done is the most important thing to you. Finding a remodeling contractor who won’t cheat you or do shoddy work requires doing some research on the contractor you are looking to hire. Here are some tips to think about before settling on a contractor.

1. Use Good Leads

The best way to find a good contractor is to ask around to family for friends who have had work done. If you were impressed with their home remodeling project, ask them who their contractor was. Follow up with questions about rates, trustworthiness, and efficiency in getting the job done on time. Word of mouth is the best advertising a remodeling contractor can have. If you don’t have friends who have used good contractors, ask someone in the real estate business or in the architecture business. They will have good leads on contractors they trust and would be happy to recommend you a good one.

2. Check The Background

Remodeling contractors, like any other business, have customer reviews. If your contract has a website, read the tutorials. Check the Internet for anyone who has used the contractor before and read about their experience. You could also ask the contractor for references. Make sure you check them thoroughly. You should also verify that they have current and proper licensing in order to complete your remodeling project without any hassle.

3. Ask The Contractor Questions

Once you do some research on the home remodeling project you want done, you should have a good idea of how much it should cost and how long it should take. When you interview contractors, ask them both of those questions first. Right off the bat, you’ll be able to tell if they are trying to pinch money or if they plan on working more hours that they don’t really need.

4. Don’t Settle On The First Contractor

Unless you get a sterling referral from a friend for a remodeling contractor, you should shop around. Think of it as buying a car. Odds are you won’t buy the first thing you see. It’s the same with contractors. Shop around and compare their rates, schedules, and quality of previous work. The more options you have, the better chance you have of landing a great contractor at a better rate.

5. Put Everything In Writing

Whenever you spend money, it’s a good idea to get everything in writing. Once you and a contractor reach an agreement about costs and time for a job, write it down and have all parties sign it. Having a signed contract for a job will protect you if the contractor wastes time or money, or causes other problems. Document all your payments and work hours, and keep the contractor aware of them. If a contractor knows you’re diligent in your paperwork, he’ll be less inclined to pull a trick on you.

Author Bio: Visit http://www.texashomeandlifestyle.com for more home improvement resources.

Category: Home Management
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