The Importance of Choosing a Good
Contractor :
As a homeowner, the desire to remodel your home starts with a vision--one of a cozier living space, or perhaps an updated look. Turning that vision into reality can be the tricky (and often frustrating) part. Remodeling your home should be an exciting, and perhaps even a pleasant, experience; sadly, it is all too easy for that experience to become one of anxiety and frustration, as a result of having chosen the wrong remodeling contractor. The very last thing anyone wants is to have their vision of remodeling go from one of excitement to one of disappointment and "remodeling gone wrong."
As a homeowner, the desire to remodel your home starts with a vision--one of a cozier living space, or perhaps an updated look. Turning that vision into reality can be the tricky (and often frustrating) part. Remodeling your home should be an exciting, and perhaps even a pleasant, experience; sadly, it is all too easy for that experience to become one of anxiety and frustration, as a result of having chosen the wrong remodeling contractor. The very last thing anyone wants is to have their vision of remodeling go from one of excitement to one of disappointment and "remodeling gone wrong."
What's at Stake?
The value
that a contractor provides goes well
beyond the skill, experience and
aptitude that they bring to their work.
There are the obvious
concerns--will the
contractor's work be good? will they
use top-quality materials, or will they
cut corners? And then there are
the not-so-obvious ones : the simple
fact that you are hiring a group of
people who will be trudging through
your home (for several days) should be
enough to provide you with some
perspective on just how critical the
choice of contractors is. It may be a
"job site" to the contractor, but it is
your
home--a simple fact that
your contractor and crew should be
aware of and respect, as though the
home (and the people in it) were their
own.
So, what is at stake when you choose a contractor? First and foremost, your peace of mind. Hiring the right contractor not only means knowing that the work will be done right--knowing that the value of one of your primary investments (your home) will be enhanced--but that the work will be done by people you can trust in and around your home.
So, what is at stake when you choose a contractor? First and foremost, your peace of mind. Hiring the right contractor not only means knowing that the work will be done right--knowing that the value of one of your primary investments (your home) will be enhanced--but that the work will be done by people you can trust in and around your home.
Tips (and a Questionnaire) for Choosing
a Good Contractor :
As in
most matters, communication is key when
you are in the process of deciding on a
contractor; you should never hesitate
to discuss any matters of concern with
a contractor--whether they be the more
obvious concerns (ability, credentials,
reputation) or something of particular
concern to you (for example, what
precautions they take to shield the
rest of your home from the dust, etc.,
that might arise from the work).
There are
several basic questions that ought to
be asked when you are deciding on a
contractor. The questions generally
fall into three categories :
- questions about their credentials (references, insurance, licenses)
- questions about their contracts and warranties (cost schedules, warranties)
- questions about their experience and work ethic (materials used, experience)
- questions about their credentials (references, insurance, licenses)
- questions about their contracts and warranties (cost schedules, warranties)
- questions about their experience and work ethic (materials used, experience)
We've
compiled several of the questions in
the form of a questionnaire, and placed
them in the file below (called
"Contractor_Evaluation_Form.pdf"). You
can download the file (it's a PDF
file), then print it out and use it
when evaluating a potential contractor.
To view the contents of the file, simply click on it; to download the file, simply right-click on the link, and choose "Save As..."
To view the contents of the file, simply click on it; to download the file, simply right-click on the link, and choose "Save As..."
Common Mistakes People Make When
Choosing a Contractor :
Mistake
#1 : Picking a contractor based only on
price!
Mistake
#2 : Thinking that all contractors are
the same.
Mistake
#3 : Always having 3 or more
contractors competing with each other
for your work.
Mistake
#4 : Thinking that having the right
equipment is all a contractor needs to
do your job.
Mistake
#5 : Not giving your contractor enough
time to complete your job
properly.
Mistake
#6 : Selecting contractors who don't
guarantee their work.
Mistake
#7 : Not bothering to ask for
references.
Mistake
#8 : Not asking for explanations if you
don't understand the "lingo."
Remember : Total Value = Quality +
Price + Service
As much
as many people would like to pretend
that it isn't so, it is impossible
for any company in any industry to
offer the lowest price, while having
the highest quality and providing the
best service all at the same
time.
You can get high quality and first-rate service, but you can't get both and still get the lowest price.
Just as in your own business, the best long-term results are obtained when you hire the best people and buy the highest-quality products--consequently, you will have to charge more for your services than others who do not have a long-term, maximum-value view.
You can get high quality and first-rate service, but you can't get both and still get the lowest price.
Just as in your own business, the best long-term results are obtained when you hire the best people and buy the highest-quality products--consequently, you will have to charge more for your services than others who do not have a long-term, maximum-value view.