How to pick a good contractor for remodeling a house?

Question

How to pick a good contractor for remodeling a house?

Answer 1

Check with other people they have done jobs for and ask a lot of questions.

Answer 2

Word of Mouth is the best, because they have experienced their work.  I would check with the BBB and see if there have been any reports on them.  You may want to get several quotes from different ones and generally you will be able to tell when you meet them whether or not they are shady.

Answer 3

Ask friends, family, or neighbors if they have any referrals (they had work done and recommend someone). I would also recommend going with a bigger name company than a fly-by-night general contractor.

The big name companies generally have access to the same group of subcontractors who will make your job a priority. If you use a general who goes out and hires subs just every now and then, one of your subs might put your job off to work on a bigger, more lucrative job. This results in delays to your project.

The bigger contractors are also preferred customers at the material suppliers. This means that there is less likelihood that your project will be delayed by material delays. Since the smaller independent generals don't have the priority that the big companies do, they may have problems obtaining certain materials when supplies are low. This also results in delays to your project.

When you look for a general contractor, choose one that does in-house design. This is where they have their own architects and designers working for them, which is cheaper than hiring an independent architect. Also, an architect will put into the plans whatever features you tell him to, regardless of how much it will cost to implement them. An in-house designer knows approximately how much a particular design aspect is going to increase your job total and can immediately inform you of a cost increase. They can also design your remodel to be as cost efficient as possible.

Finally, if you're down to one or two choices, get a couple of estimates and see how you like the contact person (salesman). And, ask for references  - and follow up on them. There's usually a couple places nearby where you can call the people up and ask how their experience was, and even go by the place to see the quality of work.

The most important thing is to take your time. A remodel is a big step, almost as much as buying the house itself. And, you want to enter into the deal assured that they will do the job to your satisfaction and on time.

Answer 4

I'd say start with friends and family, and if that isn't possible, perhaps look at something like Craigslist?

Answer 5

Referrals are always usefu, but don't rely on them entirely. You also want to find out if the contractor is licensed and insured (regulations for this vary from state to state).  Here are 8 tips for finding a good contractor:

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/...

And even a good contractor may not be the right contractor for your project. Maybe he/she doesn't take on jobs the size of yours (it's too small, or it's too big). So don't just look for good--look for a good fit too.

And though most contractors are honest, you may encounter some who are not. Here's how to spot a lemon:

http://www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/article/...