Whether you’re remodeling your current home or building a new facility for your business, the success of your project depends on the building contractor you hire. It’s important that you do your due diligence before you hire a general contractor. You shouldn’t make the final decision on who to work with based on price alone. Remember your home or commercial building is a major investment, and you don’t want poor construction work. Here are tips on how to find a qualified general contractor for your new construction or remodeling project.
Start with a Detailed Plan
Before you even think of approaching a contractor for your project, you want to find a professional designer or architect who can help you develop a detailed plan with the specifics of your construction. The plan may include interior architecture, finishes, electrical and lighting features, among other details which will provide your contractor with the information needed for accurate pricing before the project starts.
Price out your Construction Project
At this point you already have a complete set of drawings and plans with specifications from your designer or architect. How do you price your project then? Well, you may ask your architect or your friends to recommend a few builders and contractors to whom you can send your detailed drawings and plans for pricing. Since you’re already providing the contractors with all the information about your project, they’ll have no option than to stick to their provided pricing and bids.
Check out your Contractor’s Recent Work
After sending out your detailed plans to contractors and they’ve sent bids, the next step is to visit their most recent projects. It doesn’t matter who referred the contractors to you, make sure you get a look at their work. Compare the construction work a contractor completed recently and what they did a couple of years ago. If you like and impressed by what you see, and the owner of the building is happy with how the project was executed, there’s a good chance that the contractor will do a good job and you’ll be happy too.
Ensure your Contractor is licensed and insured
You don’t want to be part of the statistics on homeowners and commercial property owners who were disappointed with their contractor after receiving poor quality services. Make sure you hire a licensed and insured contractor. Remember accidents are part of the norm in the construction industry. A licensed and insured contractor gives you peace of mind since you won’t be liable in case of mishaps or an accident during the construction process.
Interview your Contractor
You’ve narrowed down to one contractor who you think is the right candidate for the job. Now it’s time to ask questions without hesitation. This is an investment you’re making and your contractor should be sensitive to your needs. They should respond to all your concerns and ensure you’re at peace before staring the project. Pick a contractor you can trust and communicate with.
You want to hire a contractor who is committed to your complete satisfaction. They should commit to finishing your project on time and staying within your budget. It’s important that you get everything in writing before starting the job. And remember not to choose a contractor based on price. The lowest bidder might end up becoming the biggest headache and a disappointment at the end of your construction project.