What to Look for when Hiring a Professional Renovation Contractor
Make sure you find the right design-build firm before hiring a contractor to do your renovation. When looking for a contractor to handle your home remodeling project, you must have certain points in mind. It isn’t always easy to find the best contractor for the job; that’s why you’re here, after all, right?
Renewal Design-Build is located in Decatur, Georgia and services the intown Atlanta area. Today’s blog post is going to focus on what you need to look for when hiring a design-build firm or a contractor for your renovation.
The Qualifications
You should find out what makes the contractor qualified to offer this type of service. The kind of training they had is important. You should also look into whether they are licensed to provide these services. Your local building authority or professional building associations in your area will be able to provide you with information on the license a contractor needs to offer home remodeling in your area.
Their Experience
How long a person has been doing a job is important, especially if the renovation project will be a large one. Find out how many projects they have worked on in the past that are similar to yours. Better yet, if possible, see if they have any knowledge about the types of housing in your area. Local contractors will understand the requirements for getting building permits for any work that needs to be done.
Look for a contractor or a design-build firm with a nice website. An updated website shows that they are on top of their game and still competitive in the business world. They should also have some pretty magnificent pictures on their website. Look for before and after renovation pictures to gauge how well they do their job.
Type of Insurance
Since accidents can happen when performing home renovation jobs, it is important that any contractor you use has the right type of insurance such as liability and workers compensation. Look for someone who is licensed, bonded, and insured.
Get Referrals
This old favorite still remains a good way to find the right contractor. Referrals from family members and friends are particularly important as these people are unlikely to steer you in the wrong direction. Instead of just taking written referrals, you should call and talk to the persons named. You should also consider checking reviews on reputable websites to see what past clients have to say. Web sites such as guildquality.com and kudzu.com are good sites to check for client reviews for any remodeler you decide to use.
Get a Contract
Get a written contract and make sure that all the details of the job as well as agreed upon cost and timelines are included. The more complex the job the more details there should be in the contract, such as the types of materials to be used.
Once you have the factors that will help you to narrow your list of potential contractors, you can go about finding the right person for the job. Just as important as the decision to remodel your house is the proficiency of the contractor who will be doing the work.
For more information about remodeling your home in Atlanta, contact us at Renewal Design-Build.
