We have been hard at work at Dalos and Stern, and we will soon disclose the new projects that we have in the works. One of the biggest projects we have in the pipeline is a construction project, and while this has taken a tremendous amount of our time and energy, it has been well worth it. All of the work that we are doing right now would be nearly impossible without the help of our phenomenal contract workers, and the purpose of this blog is to give detailed steps on what to do when you are about to hire a contractor for your next big project. Whether it is a home renovation office revamp or home improvement, these tips will go a long way in helping you.
Step 1: Determine the kind of project you want to do
Determining the type of project you want to embark on will help to guide you and give you a starting point. If it is a smaller project like installing new windows or a medium-sized project like changing the wallpaper in your house, that will help guide you by determining the type of contract worker you should ultimately hire. After you have figured out the project you want, it is time to sit down and do some thorough research. To set the plan in motion, you can ask friends and family if they know of any contractor who will be an excellent fit for what you are trying to do. Real estate agents are also a goldmine for this because they probably have connections and know who will get the job done the right way, so connect with real estate agents in your area and ask them if they know anyone.
Step 2: Make the calls.
Once you have determined what project you want to embark on and asked around who will be a great fit, it is time to make calls to the potential contractors you think might be an excellent fit for what you are working on. Before making the calls, ensure that you check out the contractors’ websites to see what they have worked on, how versatile their work is, and what their current and past clients are saying about them. We live in a digital age, and so it is strongly advised to look online first to see their previous work. During the call, you will want to keep an eye out for certain things and also ask important questions about whether or not they have insurance, their niche of work, and their references, to name a few.
Step 3: Let your Budget Guide You
After scouting around and making the necessary calls, sit down with a list of what you want to accomplish during your construction and develop a comprehensive budget that makes sense for your finances. Depending on what you want to achieve and how realistic your goals are, there is a good fit for you out there, and the right contractor will be willing to work with you to accomplish the goals you set out to accomplish.
Step 4: Verify their Insurance and Certifications
As an additional precaution, ensure that the home contractor you hire has specific types of insurances and certifications. Although insurance isn’t the most exciting thing to verify in a potential contractor, it is crucial to do so and do your due diligence. As much as possible, you want to avoid an uninsured contractor filing a lawsuit against you for an injury that happens on the job while completing a task for you. Examine the contractors on your list to see if they have the insurance policies and credentials that would best serve your project. After this, you should be down to four or five finalists at the least.
Step 5: Contact their references.
At this point, your list should boil down to three potential home contractors, and it is at this stage that you should get ready to get down to it and talk about price. At this point, you can invite each contractor to visit your home or property to look at and analyze what needs to be done. At that point, they will be able to give you a detailed proposal. In many instances, the proposal will include things like:
- Project description
- Project timeline
- Materials needed
- Total cost
- Payment schedule
- How to handle additional costs
How do you know which contractor to go with? That depends on your budget and overall goal for the project that you are working on. First, only stick with proposals that are within your budget. As much as possible, try to stay away from debt. Also, remember why you’re doing this. When we embarked on our Dalos and Stern project, we had a clear vision and plan for what we wanted the outcome to be (photos soon). Also, remember that you might be tempted to go with the lowest bid you get, which would be fine, but also know that if you go with the lowest bid because of cheap materials, you won’t be disappointed when the final bid product is completed.
Have you embarked on a project? What are your thoughts on choosing a contractor?