The contractor you hire will make or break your remodeling project. The quality of the work that they deliver and the stress they'll impose on you are some of the factors that will determine whether or not you'll get the best deal. Before you hire a contractor, ask them questions to ensure that they're knowledgeable about the project and that they're able to communicate effectively with you. 1. Itemize Your Bid Most contractors prefer to provide a single bottom-line price for a project, which means they don't have to provide you with the necessary details about the various aspects of the job. For instance, if the original plan calls for wainscotting in your bathroom, but you decide that you don't want to use it, how much should be credited for that? If you want to know the exact costs of the project, an estimate that includes all of the necessary details can be very helpful. It allows you to easily compare the prices of different contractors. Also, an estimate that includes all of the details can help you avoid disputes later. If the contractor doesn't want to make an effort to itemize their bids, it's a red flag that they're not interested in working with you. 2. Estimate or a Fixed Price Some contractors use estimates as their base price, which means that they could end up with higher bills later. If they don't want to provide a fixed price, then ask for a different price. One way to resolve this issue is to have the contractor provide a detailed project spec explaining what they expect to do. If you need to add work to the project, you can also do a change order, which is a written estimate that includes all of the necessary details. 3. Contractor Experience A contractor who has been in the business for a long time can be a safer bet than a new one who might be moving to a different area or planning on working from 50 miles away. They have a network of suppliers and subcontractors in the area, which makes them a more reliable option than a new one. Ask them to provide you with a business card with a nearby address. This will allow you to confirm that they've not just recently hung their shingle. 4. Suppliers Before you hire a contractor, make sure that you ask about his or her professional reputation. Also, ensure they are reliable and have a good track record of paying their
bills. If they're an upstanding customer, you should be able to ask them where they get their materials. Contractors can also provide reliable and high-quality service through their network of suppliers. You can find out more about their level of quality by talking to the owners of various home improvement centers. 5. Meet the Job Foreman Before starting a project, make sure you meet the foreman in person to see how his current job is going. This will give you an incentive to hire them if you think they are a good candidate. If the contractor says they'll be running the job independently, then ask if they'll be there to work on the project. They'll want to give you a good response, and you can hold them to that promise later on. Most contractors don't actually swing hammers. Instead, they spend their time bidding on new projects and managing various tasks. The job foreman is the most important member of the team. They are responsible for overseeing the work that the other members of the team are doing.