What should you know about hiring a contractor for a remodel?

What should you know about hiring a contractor for a remodel?

Actually, most contractors are honest, competent, and diplomatic. And they have a few things to say about clients. We surveyed a number of contractors to gather their thoughts about things they wish homeowners knew– before starting the remodel. You’ve hired the contractor for a full-scale kitchen remodel . The contractor is fully on-board.

Who is the contractor for this old house?

This Old House general contractor Tom Silva shares what you should know before you hire a contractor. Tom Silva, This Old House general contractor, shares how homeowners should evaluate a potential contractor before hiring him or her to work on a house. Here are his top 8 pro tips to help you find a contractor from start to finish.

Can a contractor underbid a remodeling project?

Generally, you should have little or no issues with the trades if the contractor feels good enough to work with that person. Suspicious homeowners are sometimes convinced that contractors underbid remodel projects, all the while planning to load up the projects with extra tasks after the contract is signed.

Can You Use Your Uncle as a remodeling contractor?

Almost as important, the remodeling contractor has a blacklist of problem sub-contractors, a list forged from years of hard knocks. By using your uncle to install HVAC, the contractor would be working with someone with whom he or she has no established relationship.

Actually, most contractors are honest, competent, and diplomatic. And they have a few things to say about clients. We surveyed a number of contractors to gather their thoughts about things they wish homeowners knew– before starting the remodel. You’ve hired the contractor for a full-scale kitchen remodel . The contractor is fully on-board.

Who are the best contractors for Home Improvement?

Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 12 years. Remodeling contractors are crucial allies in your quest to improve your home.

Almost as important, the remodeling contractor has a blacklist of problem sub-contractors, a list forged from years of hard knocks. By using your uncle to install HVAC, the contractor would be working with someone with whom he or she has no established relationship.

Generally, you should have little or no issues with the trades if the contractor feels good enough to work with that person. Suspicious homeowners are sometimes convinced that contractors underbid remodel projects, all the while planning to load up the projects with extra tasks after the contract is signed.

What do you need to know about contractor referrals?

Rather than being a money-saver, it can add more cost than the homeowner expected. As a client, you’re valuable to the contractor, not just as a source of immediate revenue but for that all-important thing called word-of-mouth. No contractor referral site or advertisement can remotely come close to the value of positive word-of-mouth.

What kind of contractor do I need for a home renovation?

While general contractors coordinate and execute larger home renovation projects, other types of contractors (subcontractors) specialize in a particular trade, such as roofing, plumbing, carpentry, or electrical work.

When to hire a contractor for a house project?

According to Al Urban, a top-selling Kansas City agent, overconfidence is all too common among homeowners who’d be better off leaving the big projects to the pros. “You’ll see where they cut a molding too short, and they put all kinds of caulking at the corner, and then painted over it, and you go, ‘Oh, goodness,’” said Urban.

When to hire a contractor for a home inspection?

Hire a contractor for these bigger projects A general rule of thumb is that you’ll want to hire a contractor or specialist for any issue that might crop up during a home inspection.

Lee has over two decades of hands-on experience remodeling, fixing, and improving homes, and has been providing home improvement advice for over 12 years. Remodeling contractors are crucial allies in your quest to improve your home.

What kind of contract do you need for a home renovation?

A homeowner who hires a contractor to perform a large-scale home renovation would almost always enter sign a contract with that contractor’s company, usually a corporation or an LLC. If you signed a written contract, look for the company name on this document.