HOMEOWNER

Choosing a Contractor

What to Look for in a Home Improvement Contractor

(taken from the CT Department of Consumer Protection)

The decision to have your home (and life) turned upside down can only mean that you have decided to have remodeling or renovations done. Unless you have unlimited money and a second home in a warm climate, be prepared for stress to enter into your life on many levels. However, you can prevent a large portion of this stress if you do your homework before the work starts.

The first, most important, and hardest task facing you is deciding exactly what you want done. If you have only a vague idea of what you want your new kitchen to look like, spend the time to look through magazines and brochures on kitchens, or take photos of friends' kitchens that you just love.

Your vague ideas will begin to take shape and you will have a much better chance of getting what you want. Before you contact a contractor or an architect, you have to know what you want done to your house. If you can’t be specific about what you want, it’s unrealistic to expect a contractor, who doesn’t know you or your lifestyle, to be able to fulfill your dream.

If you want to involve an architect, make sure that your contractor is also involved in the design process. Many contractors are creative in design and are well-versed on practical application. Having the contractor and architect working together from the beginning will alleviate many potential problems. A good functional design is important. The highest quality materials and best craftsmanship are of no use if the design is not functional.

The big question here is - Where do I find a “GOOD” contractor? Most contractors get their jobs through referrals from satisfied customers, so do not expect large flashy ads in the yellow pages. Talk to friends who have had remodeling work done; network with acquaintences to broaden your pool of potentials; take a drive around your area and see if there is work being done; and ask your plumber, electrician, landscaper who they would recommend.

Choose your contractor carefully. You will live with the results of your decision for a long time. If you are tempted to choose a contractor based on just a low bid, resist the temptation.

All contractors are not equal. Some are much better than others. Having contractors bid on your job may not be the best way to choose the best contractor for you. However, negotiated contracts are a very positive alternative with little or no downside. Here is a comparison of Competitive Bidding vs. Negotiation:

Competitive Bidding	Negotiated Contract
More risk to owner	Less risk to owner
More risk for contractor	Less risk for contractor
Sets up adversarial relationship among contractor, architect/engineer and owner	Sets up team relationship among contractor, architect/engineer and owner
Contractor protects self interest	Contractor works for owner
Gets low cost bids	Emphasizes quality
High charges for change orders	Reasonable charges for change orders
No contractor involvement during planning stage	Heavy involvement of contractor during planning stage
Requires good estimator	Requires good conceptual estimator
Emphasizes price	Emphasizes service
Makes the assumption that the quality will be the same no matter who works on the project.	Chooses contractor and subcontractors on the basis of work and track record
Price is the deciding factor	Considers experience, quality, reliability, on-time completion and creativity
Legal costs can be much higher	Legal costs usually lower.

A few items to look at before choosing a contractor:

Can you communicate openly with the contractor?
Does he/she take the time to really listen to what you want?
Look at both recent and past jobs.
Talk to past customers.
Check litigation history.
Check current workload. Can the contractor really start and finish when they say they can?

A few things that a contractor expects from you:

Communicate your objectives and expectations from the very start.
Provide the necessary money -- pay promptly.
Provide access to the project.
Once you have chosen a contractor you trust, allow him/her to lead.
Be available for meetings.
Make decisions promptly.
Accept reasonable standards of performance. Perfection is rare in construction.
Be prepared for unpredictable conditions. Contractors don't control the weather.
Be responsible for your own actions which will affect the job.
Remember: treat others the way you would like to be treated.

< Prev