5 Costly Mistakes to Avoid When Hiring a Home Renovation Contractor

Not all home renovation contractors are reliable and deliver on their promises. Here are three major issues homeowners often complain about:

It turns out homeowners often make common mistakes that lead to these problems. Let’s talk about five such mistakes to improve your chances of completing your project on time, within budget, and excellent quality.

Failing to Vet the Contractor

Nothing gives peace of mind like a contractor who guarantees their work. This is the kind of contractor who’s reliable and you can count on them to do great work.

Unfortunately, not all home renovation contractors are willing to guarantee their workmanship. So, you’ll need to screen the contractors thoroughly to find one who guarantees their work.

While searching, also check the following:

Contractor insurance to protect both you and them.
Recent references, also called testimonials.
Online reviews. A contractor without a website with reviews is a no go. What could they be hiding?
Check with the local building department if the contractor doesn’t have any violations.

Furthermore, ask each contractor interested in your project what they do to ensure projects finish on time and on budget. You’re interested in how they handle project planning and control.

Not Hiring a Project Manager

Every successful home renovation work has a project manager. This person ensures, among other things, that:

Without doing this work, it’s likely the project will fail and cost you time and money. If you can’t afford to hire a project manager, do it yourself. Never allow the contractor to run the project by themselves.

Not Entering into a Legally-binding Contract

A contract protects you and the contractor if things don’t turn out right, as they often do. W written contract can stand in court better than a verbal agreement. Also, a contract forces the contractor to commit on price, workmanship, and completion of the project.

Best of all, contingencies provide an escape route in the event the contractor fails to deliver according to your agreement.

Hiring the First Contractor You Meet

The first contractor you meet isn’t necessarily the best for the job, even if they’re recommended by someone you know. It’s vital to screen this contractor as well.

It’s a great idea to get at least three quotes for your project. This will help you confirm the scope of work, material prices, project timeline, and labor costs.

Opting for Price Instead of Cost

The first contractor you meet isn’t necessarily the best for the job, even if they’re recommended by someone you know. It’s vital to screen this contractor as well.

It’s a great idea to get at least three quotes for your project. This will help you confirm the scope of work, material prices, project timeline, and labor costs.

Contractors bidding for your project may quote different prices. It’s tempting to choose the lowest bidder. Unfortunately, such a contractor may not necessary deliver quality work or finish the project on time. This can be costly in the long run.

How does price differ from cost? Price is the dollar value that you pay, while cost is price coupled with losses in time and efficiency. So, you want to choose a contractor that will deliver quality within an agreed timeline.

In a nutshell, choose a quality and experienced contractor and ensure there’s a project manager for your home renovation project.