So you’ve honed in on a budget and you’re ready to move forward with your home remodel. The next step is to team up with a talented, trustworthy contractor. You’ll be working closely with this team for the duration of your project so it’s vital to choose a remodeling contractor near you wisely. Rather than picking the first option you stumble across, you should intentionally vet several home remodelers. Use this blog as a guide while picking your ideal home remodeling contractor.
Look at a wide pool of candidates when you start your hunt for the perfect home remodeler. Start by getting recommendations from your friends and family. Word of mouth is by and large the best way to find an amazing team to work with. If someone in your community finds a qualified professional that they love and trust, it’s far more likely that you will also align well with them. If you don’t have friends or family with recommendations, look at online reviews. This is another great way to find talented contractors that have a track record of success.
Most home remodeling contractors will have photos of previous work on their website. If you’re looking into a company that doesn’t have an extensive enough online portfolio or they don’t have one at all, get in touch with them to see if they can send you over some work samples. If they cannot provide you with this, take that as a red flag and set your sights on different options.
As you sift through your options, look for indicators that the companies you’re vetting will align well with your needs. You should also look for professionalism and integrity. You can get a sense of this through online reviews, how they market themself, and how long they’ve been in business. Be on the lookout for companies that have worked on similar projects to the style you like.
Narrow down your list to about three contractors. Anything beyond this will be too overwhelming to work through. Schedule interviews with your top choices. Come ready with any and all questions you may have. Remember, this is a huge decision so don’t be afraid to bring forth whatever thoughts and concerns you may have. Here are some questions you may want to ask:
A lot of states require proper licensing and insurance for major home remodeling projects. This is due to the fact that home renovation projects come with a risk of injury and should also be completed by trained professionals. Be sure you ask the companies you’re vetting if they can provide verification that they are licensed and have the proper insurance. They will generally give you a license number you can verify with your state’s local government website. They will also include documentation on their insurance. Be sure they have both workers’ comp and general liability insurance so you won’t be liable for any potential accidents.
Once you have interviews out of the way, reach out to their references. They should happily provide you with contact information for past clients with similar projects to yours. If they don’t, this could be a sign that the company you’re vetting isn’t credible.
When you reach out to references, ask them about their experiences with the company. Be sure to get the full scope of how the process went from them – the good, the bad, and the ugly. It’s important to know exactly how working with the company went for them. You can even ask if they’d be willing to let you view their home if you’re comfortable with it. Here are some questions you may want to ask:
Now that you have a better idea of what each of your top contenders has to offer, you can get down to the nitty-gritty. You may be tempted to just choose your favorite remodeling contractor near you but you should get a proposal from each of them first. If your contractor doesn’t want to put together a proposal for you without a commitment, they are likely not a great fit. A worthwhile home remodeler will be willing and able to provide a blueprint or at the very least an outline of the project. Their proposal should include the cost of materials, labor, profit margin, and any other expenses.
Hopefully between recommendations from your community, a look into your top contenders’ past work, and notes from your interviews, you have enough information to pick your ideal home remodeling contractor near you. Mull over your decision carefully. Be sure to follow up with any of your options with additional questions if you’re still on the fence. Select the option you feel can deliver your vision effectively and professionally.
Once you have your choice set, the next step is to sign a contract. Be sure to read through it carefully. Your contract should outline…
If you’re in the Northern Colorado area, Forge & Bow is ready and able to take on your home remodeling project. We strive to preserve the spirit of your home’s existing architecture while infusing it with your own personal flair. We will collaborate with you from start to finish so you can rest assured that your project will be exactly what you’re dreaming of.
