Hiring A Home Remodeler: Tips That Can Help You And Your House

Hiring a home remodeler is an important step in having major or minor renovations done to your house. Maybe you want to add on to the kitchen, build a whole new room or turn your little-used garage into a play den. But before you put the cart ahead of the horse, you need to hire someone who will be fair with you, give you a good price, and perform the work up to your expectations and specifications. Finding a contractor who meets all three criteria can be a challenge, especially in an industry where there are more than a few people perfectly willing to take advantage of customers who don’t want to put in the research. Here are some tips that will help your project become a success.

First things first: make sure the remodeler you hire has a contractor’s license. This is important to ensure that you are getting someone who not only has experience in the field but has all the proper documentation to do the type of work you’re requesting. Any company worth their salt will be more than happy to provide their license number; you can verify it independently once you have it in-hand. When you check to make sure the license is legal, you can also see if there have been any official reports against the business or other red flags.

In addition to checking out their credentials, list and check up on any references the home remodeler might have. If they do not provide you with any, turn around and find someone else. Anyone who has been in business for any length of time and has done quality work will be able to provide you with some references. When you talk to people who have used the company, ask them specific questions about the service they received. Don’t begin and end with the question of whether they were satisfied with the end result: seek out more direct information about the promptness of the company, whether or not they were able to finish the job in the time they specified and whether there were any issues with the price.

Finally, find a home remodeler who is patient and willing to work with you and not over you. Some contractors come into a job with their own ideas about how the work should be done. Since many of them have a design background, it’s never a bad idea to listen to suggestions they might have. However, there is a difference between listening to advice and being run over by someone who refuses to understand that you have your own ideas about the project. Be sure to clearly state your non-negotiable goals from the start and you'll be well on your way to a successful home renovation partnership.