Choosing a Home Remodeling Contractor: How to Evaluate the Candidates
Remodeling your home means significant financial investment, and homeowners want the project to go seamlessly with minimal hassles. One of the essential steps while renovating is finding the right home contractor.
Hiring a dependable and competent remodeling contractor can make a big difference to the outcome of your home remodeling project. Professionals ensure a smooth remodeling journey from start to finish, delivering high-quality results on time and within the budget. However, when there are many options to choose from, homeowners may find it challenging to evaluate potential contractors before hiring them.
Keep reading to learn how to evaluate different home remodeling contractors and find one that perfectly suits your project requirements.
Recommendations
Several individuals willingly recommend reputable home remodeling contractors. Word-of-mouth is one of the best and the most popular ways to assess a home remodeling contractor. Talk to family, friends, colleagues, and neighbors if they can recommend a local contractor they had a good experience working with in the past. Recommendations from acquaintances are helpful and can aid in narrowing down the choices and identifying the top contenders.
Years in business
Check the contractor's experience and the number of home remodeling projects completed before settling for anyone. A contractor with a strong reputation in the industry and among the customers is more trustworthy than those just starting.
Credentials
After shortlisting a few options, start the preliminary search by calling them or visiting their website. Reliable contractors will hold the necessary licenses issued by state and local authorities validating their eligibility to carry out remodeling projects legally and safely. They should also carry a valid insurance policy and certifications, stating that they care for their workers and are keen on updating their knowledge and skills regularly. Ask for copies of all the documents to ensure they are up to date.
Past work
Every contractor mentions the services offered on the website and a gallery of images showing completed projects. It gives an idea about the type of work the contractor specializes in and whether it matches your specific project requirements.
Face to face meeting
Meeting a contractor face to face gives a better idea about their communications skills, work style, and employees. Avoid contractors who do not have a permanent mailing address, fax number, personal and office phone number, and a functional website. Discuss all the vital points with the contractor and ask them about the subcontractors, the number of projects going on, the list of previous clients, and whether they are available on the desired dates.
Check references
Talk to the subcontractors and previous clients about the contractor and their experience working with them. Also, consider online ratings and reviews to assess the contractor's reputation. Several negative reviews over the years should raise a red flag. Also, examine how a contractor handles the complaint and works to resolve it.
Evaluate the bids
All home remodeling contractors give a proposal or a bid, depending on the scope of the remodeling project. Compare the cost to quality ratio to assess which contractor offers the best value for the money. It is vital to research the shortlisted contractors thoroughly before making the final choice.
Always follow due diligence in selecting your contractor. Here's to a great home remodeling project!
Eagle Home Renovation is a family-owned general contracting business offering 20 years of experience in residential home remodeling. We remodel kitchens and bathrooms, garages, balconies, porches, deck porches, and more for homeowners in Richmond, VA, and surrounding areas. Call us today at (804)538-3334.
