A Few Tips for Contractor Selection

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A Few Tips for selecting a Contractor

Most homeowners, at one point or another, will do some remodeling to their home. A portion of this remodeling can be done by a "do-it-yourself" person. However, some projects needing a professional contractor. The following should provide you with some help in the selection of a contractor.

The key to having a satisfactory relationship with your contractor is that you know what you want from the project you are undertaking. It is therefore a good idea to spend some time evaluating the following considerations:

	The Project Goal	What do you hope to accomplish with this home improvement project?
	The Budget and Financing	What kind of overall budget do you foresee and how are you going to finance that? (make a rough estimate of all costs, including, for instance, new furniture for a new room addition etc., if that is part of a project!)
	The Special Needs	Do you have any special needs that have to be catered for? (e.g. access, time frame etc.)

Once you have clearly settled in your own mind what you want, it becomes much easier to pre select a contractor and talk to him, explaining to him exactly what you intend to do. Remember, muddled projects are the primary cause of disputes with contractors.

Once you have gone through this step, then proceed to make a pre selection of a contractor. Choose two or three contractors you wish to invite for designs and bids.Your initial choice should be made,based on the following criteria:

	Referrals	Ask neighbors and friends, etc., for the names of contractors they have used and have been happy with.
	Longevity	If you undertake a major job, and you cannot find a satisfactory contractor through the "grape vine", look for contractors whose advertisements you have seen or whose name you have heard of for years!
	Consumer Information	Visit the Registrar of Contractors and the Better Business Bureau to get their input about licensing, bonding, and complaints
	Professional Organizations	Membership of a professional organization is not a guarantee for quality work. But, if you have a dispute with your contractor, it often provides a means of arbitrating a disagreement without resorting to costly court battles.

After your pre selection, you can invite the contractors to your house, in order to make your final evaluation and choice.

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This sounds ominous, but it is not, provided that you do it systematically. The following should be items that you should discuss with your prospective contractor:

	Business Success	How long has the contractor been in business? Contracting is a fairly risky job. The longer the firm has been in business, the more likely it has satisfactory clients and a good job record.
	The Insurance Risk	Is the contractor licensed, bonded, and insured.
	Quality Track Record	Review of Contractor's past jobs. Select some and have a look at them, if you can.
	Business Ethics	The contractors track record with the Registrar of Contractors and the Better Business Bureau. This is sometimes useful
	References	Client referrals: Are there clients that recommend the contractor? Talk to them if you can!
The above Items should be considered in the light of the following:
	Type of Work	Size of project and type, respectively difficulty of work to be done
	Project Review	Make a thorough review of your goals for the work to be done
	Integration	Integrate and review the project within the context of the existing home. Sometimes, what seems to be a good idea, turns out to be difficult to realize, due to existing circumstances.
	Budget and Finance	Always keep your financing capability in mind. Once you have agreed a certain project with the contractor, do not change it. Therefore think about the project beforehand. Project changes can result in runaway costs! Therefore, review your budget for the project regularly and schedule partial payments properly.

Just a few final words:

• A good contractor will be proud of his past projects and arrange for you to see some of them.
• The lowest bid is not always the best; there is a lot of truth to the statement "You get what you pay for!"
• A professional contractor should instill confidence in you with his ability to provide solutions within your realistically set budget and complete his work on a timely basis.

Oh, and one more thing: It is good policy not to do business with family and friends. You want to keep your friendships!