Choosing A Contractor

Step One: Unleash your inner detective.

The first step in hiring the right contractor begins when you do a little research. This way, you aren't blindly opening the yellow pages and choosing someone at random. The easiest place to start is your neighborhood. Did a neighbor put an addition on last spring? Find out who he used and if he was happy with his results. Did your friend remodel his bathroom? Call and ask how satisfied he was with the results. Drive around your neighborhood (or an area with similar homes) and look for signs of construction. If you like the look of the work, stop by the jobsite and inquire who the craftsman is or call the owner. Make sure to ask specific questions! Find out how close they came to meeting deadlines, how flexible they were to work with, if they were on the job when promised, etc"¦

If you don't know anyone who's had any work done recently, or are new to an area and don't know who to ask consult the Better Business Bureau. Your local chapter can provide you with lots of information on who to seek out (and who to avoid). Be advised that other so-called "referral services" (especially online) may have lower qualifications on who they accept for recommendation. A contractor may simply have to pay a "membership fee" to become a preferred service provider.

Step Two: Check Credentials

Some parts of the country are more strict than others when it comes to licensing and registration requirements. To find out what the requirements are in your area, call your local building department. In some states, you can simply call and find out if the individual or company in question is licensed, or they can provide you with a list of the properly licensed. This is a good way to weed out the amateurs from professionals.

Along the same lines, find out what type of insurance or bonds the person maintains. Also, ask for pictures of completed projects and referral information. If an individual is proud of their workmanship and has good relationships with past clients they should have no problem furnishing such items.

Step Three: Let the bidding begin!

In order to get the most accurate representation of how much something is going to cost be as specific as possible about what you want. By providing the contractors with a copy of project specifications, you can eliminate a lot of mystery. For example, if you know what type of flooring, fixtures, molding, and the like that you want make sure to convey this to whomever you receive bids from. If you have no idea, it is best to try to find a contractor who specializes in designing and building. Also, make sure to get a cost breakdown from each contractor. That way if the bids are way off you can see who's charging more, and where. It may be more simple to provide a cost breakdown sheet to all parties, for uniformity and comparison's sake. This should include: Expenses by the contractor (including costs of permits if required), materials, fixtures and labor costs.

Step Four: And the winner is"¦.

Now that you have all your bids all that is left is to choose the winner, finalize the terms, and let work commence. This should be simple, just pick the lowest bidder, sign a contract and be on your merry way, right? Wrong! While it may be hard, resist the temptation to choose the lowest bidder just based on that fact alone. Refer back to step one and factor in all of the other requirements as well. Also, it would be wise to discuss the terms (how the contractor expects to be paid) before you sign the contract. Read any terms and conditions and reach an agreement that is mutually acceptable.

Congratulations! You've hired a contractor. You're well on your way to home improvement success. If you are happy with the work make sure to spread the word. Who knows, the stellar contractor just may be willing to work out a deal on your next project if you've netted him a steady stream of referrals. Good Luck and happy building!