You are thinking about hiring a contractor, but don’t want it to go bad. It’s so easy to get the wrong person on the job who can turn your dream home into a real-life nightmare. Use the proven process for finding someone that will be respectful and reliable. Follow along as we go through what is needed when hiring the right contractor for your home remodel job.
If you are in the planning phase of a kitchen remodel, there is a great resource for you to use. It’s called The Kitchen Remodel Design Guide. Click the link to use it when designing your kitchen remodel project.
How To Pick A Contractor For A Remodel
Picking the right contractor is pretty simple. Start by searching for them in the places they are already at. Below is a checklist to use when hiring a contractor. Click to download the FREE Hiring The Ideal Contractor Checklist. That one is similar but much more in depth.
- Find out what needs to be done before hiring
- Learn where to go to look for the right people
- Get to know what goes into the interviewing
- What takes place before signing the contract
- Keep up-to-date while the project is happening
Hiring a Contractor Checklist
This checklist is designed to guide you through every stage of the process. Follow along as you find, interview, and hire your contractor.
- Define the project’s scope of work
- Set a budget and timeline
- Find inspiration for your project
- Search for contractors: friends, online, etc.
- Narrow down to 3-5 candidates you like
- Interview each candidate
- Discuss timeline, start/end dates, and budget
- Review all line items in the contract
- Verify proper permits are acquired
- Keep copies of all documents in your records
Keep this checklist handy as you continue with your search. Use the items to help narrow down and pick the right person. Now let’s look at the steps for hiring a contractor in more detail.
Where to Look for Contractors
There are several places you can go to find someone to hire. You don’t need to go in the order below, but it is recommended. The first method is more reliable, and can be easier than the following ones. Each of the ways to find a contractor are great options in their own ways.
Ask Friends and Family
This can be one of the easiest ways to tell if a contractor is a good, or bad fit for you. Friends and family want to tell you the truth about the experiences they have had. You will find out what they liked and what they didn’t like about who they worked with as well.
When you find someone you know who has already hired a contractor, there are a few questions you can ask to learn more.
Questions to Ask
Did they show up to the jobsite on time?
This is good to know because your time is important. If someone is regularly showing up late it can be a major problem for you. You have a schedule they should respect. It’s normal for a contractor to get to the job site within a 1-3 hour window.
Did they wrap up at reasonable hours when done working?
This is similar to the previous question. A reasonable hour is generally around 7-8 pm at the latest. You don’t want loud power tools to be annoying your family and the neighbors late into the night.
What do you want to have been different about the experience?
They may not have an answer to this question. If the experience was a good one they will let you know. But there is always a chance they would have said or done something different. This is your opportunity to listen to their advice and make this change.
Be creative with the questions you ask your friends and family. They want to help you if they can. Ask them what you would like to know when working with a contractor. They want to help you make your decision.
The process of finding the contractor requires a bit of creativity. There are several online directories that can be valuable tools to help finding great candidates. Below is a list of a few to consider.
Places to Look for Contractors Online
- Better Business Bureau (BBB)
- Yelp
- Angie
- HomeAdvisor
- Local Building Associations
If looking at the local building/construction association, or the remodeling contractors’ association you will need to reach out to them. You might need to do some searching to find one in your area. If you live in a place with a decent size city nearby chances are you will be able to find an organization like this. They should have a list of contractors for you to go to the next phase with.
When you find somebody online you like, that’s the time to go a bit deeper. Check for any reviews, or other indicators of what type of work they do. There is no perfect amount of reviews, but those with more positive reviews the better. Try to find companies with over 15 positive reviews if possible.
Make sure you read their negative reviews as well. Sometimes these are not going to be a deal breaker. There are some that will have a negative review that will turn you off from using them.
What Should I Ask a Contractor Before Hiring?
There are a few things that can be considered “red flags” when talking with contractors. To learn more about this topic read Red Flags (and Green Flags) When Hiring A Contractor.
Now you have gone from searching for a contractor to picking 3-5 candidates. The interviewing phase is a very important part of the process when hiring a contractor that’s reliable.
This is when you want to get a notepad and pencil ready before you call each one up. Your intention with this phone call is to get a feel for how they communicate, what type of work ethics they have, and ultimately if you feel comfortable with them.
Interview Questions When Hiring A Contractor
How long have you been in the construction business?
This can show you the level of skill they have. In general you want a minimum of 5-10 years of general experience being a contractor. The more time they have working on projects like yours the better.
Do you have any examples of remodeling projects like mine you’ve already done?
You would have already explained the project before asking this question. A person who is excited to share ideas with you about things they can do is the type you want to work with. If they don’t want to discuss many options, this could be a red flag.
Are you licensed and insured?
Being licensed/insured will help protect you if things go wrong. You also want to ask if they will be using any subcontractors for any of the work. If so, verify that they will be insured as well.
Do you have 3 references I can speak to?
You want them to be previous clients that know what the situation is like when working with the contractor. Someone who is proud of their work would be happy to send a few references your way. It’s okay if they need to take a day or two to check with the references first before giving their contact info to a stranger. Not wanting to share references could be considered a red flag.
What type of payment plans do you offer?
A good payment schedule is one where you pay 10-20% up front, progress payments as milestones are hit, and a final payment of 10-15% when the work is completed. This will give the contractor incentive to get work done in reasonable time frames. Larger payment percentages will be an opportunity for dishonest contractors to take the money and run.
There are more questions to ask during the interview phase. These questions will give you a better knowledge of exactly who it is you are inviting into your home. For a complete list of all the questions you want to ask, get your copy of the FREE Hiring The Ideal Contractor Checklist today!
How Much Remodeling Contractors Charge
Pricing for your home remodel project can vary depending on the contractor. The typical pricing plan is described above. You would pay 10-20% upon agreeing to hire a contractor. The two of you would have decided on milestones for your project that dictate when further payments are made, and the appropriate percentages. The final 10-15% is given when the project is finished, the site is cleaned, and you have a chance to do a walk-through with them.
If your project is a much smaller job that takes one to two days, for instance, you can pay them an hourly rate. This can be done at the end of the job in one lump sum. These types of jobs do not have milestones, but rather have one specific task at hand. An example of this would be to upgrade a dilapidated fence.
How Do I Find a Contractor For Small Jobs?
Hiring a contractor for small jobs is much like searching for one for a large job. The contractors that perform smaller jobs are the same that will do a full bathroom remodel.
What Not To Tell Your Contractor
There are a few things to avoid saying when deciding on the contractor. You don’t want to mention things that can set the timeline back unintentionally, be more revealing of finances than necessary, or make extra work for you.
Here are a few things to NOT say to a contractor. There are more than this list, so use your discretion when discussing your project with them.
- “You are the only one I have bidding for this job.” This may make them think they can ask a higher price.
- Don’t reveal your budget to them. They don’t need to know what amount you have to work with, just the amount you will pay them after negotiating.
- “I’ll buy my own materials.” It’s fine if you already have some of the materials on hand. You need to discuss specifics about what materials you are interested in. They can show you samples to help make your decision. It’s best if they pick up the materials and transport them to the jobsite for you.
- Don’t compare their quote to another contractor you already had bid for the work. You don’t know specifics like what they will be doing to get the work done. Each person has their own methods, and some have different skill sets than others.
- “Can I get a discount if I pay up front?” Paying up front opens the door to a sketchy person taking advantage of you. This happens too often, and I don’t want you to get caught up in this mess.
There is a lot that you can talk about during the interview process. You want to keep in mind where the line is and not to cross it. This will help you protect yourself from being taken advantage of.
Red Flags When Hiring A Contractor
There are some red flags that can come from this process. If you know what to look for you can spot them early on. Not all red flags are deal breakers though. Each person interacts differently and some are tolerable. Looking for someone you are compatible with enough to open your home to them.
Red flags can be subtle when you are hiring a contractor. For that reason I wrote an article on Red Flags (and Green Flags) When Hiring a Contractor. Check it out for more information on this topic.
Contractor red flags include:
No written contract
Pressure for large payment up front
No references
Avoiding answering questions
No insurance
Try to think of a few more red flags that might come with this type of job. If someone says something that stands out to you, feel free to bring it up to them. Don’t be ashamed of wanting to ask about something that makes you feel uncomfortable. This is a part of establishing a trustworthy relationship with the person you are hiring.
Conclusion
Hiring a contractor is a bit of a process. When done correctly you will have hired someone you trust and feel comfortable working with. If the project is done well you will want to keep their contact information so you can use them in your next project.
You will also become that friend or family member from the first step in this guide. When people you know are looking to get work done, you have gone through the process of finding and hiring a contractor that is reliable enough to tell others.
I hope this article gave you the insight you need to go through the proper steps. If you liked this article I have more I think you want to take a look at. Just click below on the topic you are interested in. And for more options click on the “CATEGORIES” tab above.
Thanks for visiting Remodel Upgrade. Here I am dedicated to helping you turn your home into a place you truly love.
You got this,
Kevin
Kevin
I grew up in a family where my dad and several uncles were general contractors. They took me to the jobsites, and also taught me so much about home maintenance. I remember spending several summers in high school helping my father build houses. It gave me so much knowledge that I am excited to share!
