Hiring a Contractor for a Remodel?

Are you hiring a Contractor for a Remodel? When planning a home renovation project, it’s important to hire the right contractor—and if you want to hire the best one, it’s important to have the right conversations.

But what, exactly, are those must-have conversations? A recent article from realtor.com outlined critical conversations to have with a contractor before you hire them for a home renovation project, including:

Time frame.

Things can come up that delay a project. But before hiring a contractor, discussing the project’s scope is essential. How long do they anticipate the project will take? In addition, ask how much time they recommend adding to the timeline for unexpected circumstances. From there, you can decide whether that aligns with your timeline and whether they’re the right contractor for your project. (For example, if you need to finish your renovation in three months—but the contractor, due to staffing issues, will need at least six months to finish the job, they’re probably not the right fit for your project.)

Referrals.

Before you agree to work with a contractor, discussing their experience and asking for referrals and photos that can speak to their work is essential. Past success is often a predictor of future success, so if they can provide multiple referrals that rave about their experience—and photos that showcase their high-quality work—chances are, you’ll have a positive experience, too. (Make sure to ask for referrals and pictures related to your specific project; for example, if hiring them for a kitchen renovation, ask them to see photos of past kitchen remodels. Also, connect with past customers who specifically went through the kitchen renovation process.)

Project meetings.

A successful remodel requires ongoing communication between you and your contractor. But “ongoing communication” can mean different things to different people. Therefore, before you agree to work together, talk to your potential contractor about how often you’ll meet throughout the process. For example, will you have weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly construction meetings?

You might enjoy: Should a home be painted before selling?
Deferred maintenance and how it impacts your value