Steps You Should Take When Choosing a Contractor

Before choosing a contractor, it is important that you ask the right questions to make sure you will be getting what you need.

On your first big project it can be difficult to know exactly what it is you will be needing from a contractor. If you have never had to hire one before, it can be difficult to know exactly what it is you need to be asking. Here is a short guide to some of the most important things you need to ask when interviewing contractors.

What is their history?
Pictures and references are your best friend when it comes to hiring a contractor. You need to make sure that whomever you are hiring, they are practiced, have a history in your area and that the people they have worked with previously had a good experience. Also, ask them who their main suppliers are because they will speak to your contractor’s level of quality and reliability.

Paperwork
First thing’s first-ask to see their license and proof of insurance and whether or not they will warranty their work. It is also important to get everything they are agreeing to put down on paper. This includes if they will be taking care of the necessary permits and inspections, how they plan to protect your property, and if they will take care of cleaning up the site (a.k.a. a broom clause). In addition, you will need an itemized list of price estimates to make sure you stay on budget. When it comes to payment talk about the amount that you have to put down and who you will be making the check out to (it should be a company not an individual).

Who will be working at the site on a daily basis?
And can you meet them? Usually it will be a foreman if it is not the contractor, but you should know who they are and how often they plan on being at the site.

Ask for a walkthrough and a timeline
By getting a walkthrough you will be able to see exactly what they plan on doing and ensure that they don’t miss anything. In addition, ask if there are any parts of your project that concerns them so that you can try to create a plan to resolve any issues that might arise. It is also necessary to get a timeline from your contractor to make it easier to keep track of your project and make sure that everything is completed on schedule.

What is the best way to get in contact with them?
When doing construction it is important to be in constant contact with your contractor, which means that you need the best way to talk to them in a pinch. If something goes wrong you need to be able to get ahold of them right away, so get the best phone numbers and email to reach them at.

Simply put, experience is key and be sure to ask all the questions you may have before hiring anyone. re:fab is a reputable and transparent company that has references from all over the New England region- contact us if you have any questions!