How to Choose a Contractor for your Remodeling, Renovation, or Home Repair Project in the Twin Cities
Any homeowner who has any experience working with remodeling contractors will tell you that finding the RIGHT contractor for your project entails much more than just finding the lowest price. Less tangible items like your ability to communicate and feel comfortable working with your contractor will inevitably prove to be much more important in determining your eventual satisfaction with the job, particularly if it’s a large project.
Here are some tips on finding the right contractor for your home improvement project:
1. Ask for references
Talk to homeowners that this contractor has done work for in the past. Were they satisfied with the work? Were they comfortable with the workers? Did the contractor keep to the agreed-upon schedule? Did the contractor return phone calls?
2. Get specific, detailed, written proposals
Different contractors can vary widely on pricing and level of detail even when bidding for the same job. As much as possible, make sure that you explain the job fully to each of the contractors to ensure each one bids on the same exact job so that you can compare the estimates ‘apple-to-apple’. Make sure that everything that you have in mind is specifically spelled out in the estimate—homeowners often complain that once a job is underway, the contractor will tell them that something wasn’t included in the original estimate and will cost extra. Be wary of estimates that are simply a price written on the back of a business card—what are you actually getting for that price?
3. Don’t automatically accept the lowest bid
The old saying ‘you get what you pay for’ applies here. A higher bid may be worth the price in better materials, workmanship and reliability. A large number of complaints filed against contractors are the result of homeowner taking the lowest bid and then being unhappy with the low quality of work. Even when the contractor promises to do the same job, be careful-- often contractors will bid a job extremely aggressively in order to get it, and when the work takes longer than originally planned, the contractor can feel ’squeezed’ by the budget and try and cut corners.
4. Make sure that your contractor is properly licensed
The licensing process requires that contractors attend yearly continuing education classes in order to maintain a familiarity with ever-changing building codes. A license also provides some financial protection for you, the customer. In Minnesota, hiring a licensed contractor gives you access to the Contractor’s Recovery Fund, which has been set up to help homeowners pay to have faulty workmanship repaired.
5. Make sure your contractor is properly insured
Ask your contractor for a copy of his proof of liability insurance and bonding or the name and number of his/her insurance agent to call and verify proof of coverage. Using an uninsured contractor can put you at a huge risk—if a worker is injured on your property, they can sue your homeowners insurance for their injury damages.
6. Is your contractor background checked and drug tested?
Ask your contractor if they have a drug testing program in place. Many workplace accidents occur involving workers who are under the influence. Background checking and drug testing provides a means to identify individuals who participate in risky behaviors.
7. Most importantly, do you trust this person to work on your home?
When it comes down to it, the most important thing to check is your own gut feeling. How do you feel about this contractor working on what is probably your single largest investment--your home? Do you trust this person inside your home? Around your children? Can you communicate well with this person about the project? Are they ‘in tune’ to your needs?
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions regarding your project or how to best choose a contractor for your project. We can be reached by phone at 651-497-7714, or by submitting our online request form.
Allrounder provides renovation & remodeling services in the southeast Twin Cities metro area, including Inver Grove Heights (55076 & 55077), South St. Paul (55075), West St. Paul (55118), Mendota Heights (55120), Sunfish Lake, Eagan (55121, 55122, & 55123), Apple Valley, Rosemount, Woodbury (55125 & 55129), Cottage Grove (55016), St. Paul Park, & Newport (55055)
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