Tips for Hiring a General Contractor Effectively

If you’re about to embark on a home construction project, such as a kitchen renovation or bathroom remodel, you need to hire the best contractor for the job. Unfortunately, there can be a lot of amateurs out there. To keep your project stress-free, here are some tips for hiring a general contractor effectively. Let’s get started!

Licensed, Bonded and Insured

Ensure that your contractor displays all forms of proper licensing, bonding and insurance. This will let you know that he is credible and knowledgeable and keep you worry-free knowing that you’ve hired a true professional. To become licensed, the contractor must take an exam and prove that they know every aspect of building codes and construction processes. If a contractor doesn’t show you his insurance and a worker ends up getting injured during your project, you could be liable. The same applies to accidents that cause damage your neighbor’s home.

Establish Guidelines for Project Work

At the start of the project, establish guidelines for the contractor working in your home – if you don’t want construction crews on your property during certain times of the day, using your bathroom or lounging around, define these requirements with your contractor. When the contractor is willing to work within your parameters, you can trust that he’s there to serve you and not himself. This prevents both sides from getting frustrated with working conditions.

Get Multiple Bids

When it comes to work orders, try to get as many bids as possible to widen your pool of candidates. Some contractors have special deals with certain material manufacturers, or have a reduced labor cost, and could end up coming in at a much lower price than another contractor. This will save you money overall, or let you put more money where it really makes an impact – within the design itself.

Look for a Specialist within Your Project Category

Different contractors will specialize in different things. It’s important to hire someone with experience in the type of project you’re taking on. With so many code-specific requirements and zoning laws, you need to have a contractor who knows the details of the project at hand.

Have an Air-Tight Contract

Before ground is broken or work begins, a mutual contract should be signed by both the contractor and the homeowner. This documents costs, materials, timeline, blueprints and specifications of a given project. A contract will set the expectations, right down to the type of timber used, color of the trim, type of windows and everything else.

Know about Lien Laws

Depending on which state you live in, you may need to ask about mechanic’s lien laws. These laws allow anyone who worked on or supplied materials for your project and isn’t paid can place a lien on your home. This means that even if you pay your contractor, but he doesn’t pay the lumber company for materials, you can be liable to pay the costs. If a contractor has a current lien against him, you’re better off moving on. Checking in on his legal status will let you know how much trust you can place in him to pay his bills.

Ask for Work Examples

When you can see past work examples, you can get a good idea of what your finished project will resemble. From the quality of the craftsmanship to design creativity, you can get a good grasp of the contractor’s skill, experience and style.

Ask for References

Any good contractor worth hiring should be more than happy to provide past references. Get in touch with a few past clients to see how satisfied they were with the contractor’s style and how their work is holding up. You can also check online reviews or website testimonials to gain reassurance that the contractor you’re hiring has a good reputation.

Hire the Best Contractor with these Tips!

To ensure your upcoming home construction project goes smoothly, follow these tips to hire an effective general contractor. You deserve a professional who will act as a partner throughout the entire process.

Choose Treasured Spaces for all of Your General Contracting Needs

To create a space that’s truly yours, hire Treasured Spaces today. We’re the premier general contractor in the Minneapolis area, serving clients of all types. Get in touch today to see how we can beautify your home.