Please Do Question Your Remodeling Contractor
Our Association members share the short list of questions they are usually asked by homeowners and offer a list of questions that you should ask. Timing and money are the most common questions a home improvement contractor hears, but homeowners should be asking about credentials and verifying business practices. If you are going to have a successful remodeling project, you need to learn the right questions to ask and how to ask them.
When can you start? When will you be finished? What time will you knock on my door each morning? What time will you quit for the day? Are you going to work every day? Can you finish before (insert any major holiday or significant family event)? How much will it cost per square foot?
Unfortunately, these are not the type of questions that are going to tell you much about a particular contractor. While a reasonable timetable and budget is important, it shouldn’t be the primary focus of an interview or a job. Homeowners should also focus on trust and quality.
Start by asking questions about a company’s business practices and experience in a similar type of project. Here are some questions our Assocation members recommend you ask before signing a remodeling contract:
- How long have you been in business?
- Who will be assigned as project supervisor for the job?
- Who will be working on the project? Are they employees or subcontractors or both?
- Does your company carry workers compensation and liability insurance? Always verify this information by calling the insurance agency. A copy of an insurance certificate does not let you know if the policy is still current.
- Do you have the proper licensing? If licensing is required, ask if the contractor is licensed and call to verify compliance with the law. Not all jurisdictions offer or require licensing. Check with your local or state government agencies.
- How many projects like mine have you completed in the past year? May I have a list of references from those projects?
- What percentage of your business is repeat or referral business?
- Are you a member of a national trade association? Have you or your employees been certified in remodeling or had any special training or education, such as earning a Certified Remodeler (CR), Certified Remodeler Specialist (CRS) or Certified Lead Carpenter (CLC) or Certified Kitchen & Bath Remodeler (CKBR) designation?
It’s also important to realize that sometimes it’s not the answers you get that are significant, but what you don’t get. Asking the right questions is not enough. You need to pay attention to your instincts and to what information is missing.
Unlike your accountant or stockbroker, your remodeler will be a part of your daily life and available for some on-the-job education. He or she will be privy to your personal life, more so than your doctor or lawyer. Your contractor will know how you look early in the morning and how well behaved your dog or your child is. It makes sense that you should take some time to carefully select this person and make sure that he/she is someone to whom you can ask questions.
Remodeling can be a fun experience. You get to create your dream remodel and learn a little about design and remodeling along the way. All you need to do is ask questions. Questions that, according to our members, remodelers don’t feel that are getting enough of. So tap into your curiosity and ask away.