Before Hiring a Home Remodeling Service Contractor, Ask These Questions

Whatever home project you need help completing, you’ll need a home remodeling service contractor to come and get the job done right. Hundreds of people in your area say they can do it, but what can you expect when you start looking around?

Many contractors will look at the part, but they may not be entirely sure what you’re looking for. You’ll need to ask the right questions. How can you know if they’re the right person for the job? Here are some questions you’ll need to ask any potential home remodeling service contractor before hiring them.

Do You Have a License?

One of the most important things you should ask when considering a home remodeling service contractor to work in your home. They will need a license to legally be allowed to work in your home. That license will show you that they are indeed trained in their specific trade so that you can hire them confidently.

The exact rules on licensing vary from state to state, so you’ll want to verify credentials and rules are in your area. It may not be a license they need but a similar credential. You can often look the contractor up with governing bodies, so make sure you do this too.

Do You Have Insurance?

This is a similar question you’ll want to make sure you’re asking. When considering a contractor, you want to ensure they have the right insurance for the job. If anything goes wrong, they should have insurance that helps them do it right.

While they’re highly skilled and things should go smoothly, there’s always the risk of accidents. When you ask a contractor this, they should be happy to tell you about their insurance and show you evidence of it. That will help you be more confident in hiring them.

How Long Have You Worked in This Field?

When hiring a contractor, the experience they have is everything. You want to know that they’ve been in the business for a long time and have gained their experience through time on the job, as well as any relevant qualifications.

Remember that the contractor may have started their business recently but have been in the trade for much longer. Most contractors will work for other companies before striking out on their own. If the business is new, that doesn’t always mean they don’t have the experience needed.

How Will You Handle Permits?

A lot of contracting jobs will require permits and inspections in order to be completed. As a homeowner, you may not know exactly what kind of permits you’ll need to get the job done, but they will. As such, you’ll want to know if they’ll handle these on your behalf.

Good contractors should be able to do this for you. They’ll walk you through what would need to happen and build the cost of these permits into your final bill. Typically, a permit should be between $405 and $2,230.

How Will You Handle Payments?

On the topic of payment, you’ll want to know how the contractor will want to be paid. Most house renovations will be pretty costly, so you won’t be able to pay everything upfront. If the contractor asks for payment upfront, that is a red flag.

The BBB recommends that you don’t use any contractor asking for this, as they may not be legit. Instead, they should be able to put forward a payment schedule, where you pay a deposit down and then pay for the work over time. You should be able to work with them until you have a schedule you both agree with.

What’s the Timeline of My Project?

Several factors will affect how quickly your project is completed, and you’ll need to know what’s affecting the timeline. For example, the company will most likely have other projects they’re working on at the same time as yours, or there could be other projects in your home that could be affected by this one. You should be able to work together to create a timeline that works for both of you before you sign on the dotted line.

Will I Have a Dedicated Team?

Similarly, you’ll want to know if the team working on your home renovations will be the same people each day. If you have a team working on your home, you’ll know who they are, and there shouldn’t be issues, even if the company is working on other projects.

You’ll also want to know if the company hires subcontractors and whether the company’s insurance would properly cover them. Make sure you have all these details before you agree to have the team working in your home.

How Will You Take Care of My Property?

There will be some mess and disruption as the team works on your home. That’s something that can’t be avoided, but you will want to know how they will keep your home as clean as possible as they do so. Where will they store their tools when they’re not on site? Will they wear shoe coverings when they come into the property? Will they recommend that you move furniture or cover it with tarps?

The team should take all reasonable measures to take care of your home while they’re there. The contractor should be able to describe what they are and how they will ensure your home is left in good condition once they have completed their work there. They need to clean up and remove all of their items before they complete the job.

The Bottom Line

These are some of the most important questions you’ll need to ask your potential home remodeling service contractor before you hire them to work on your home. Make sure they can answer them to your satisfaction before hiring them. So you can have peace of mind.