Find the Perfect Home Improvement Contractor

2009 December 19

You have built up your home equity and have gotten an equity loan or wisely saved up money to improve and increase the value of your home. Making the decision for an home improvement project is a big decision. A home improvement project can be stressful, so choosing the perfect contractor can save you the headache and money.

Home improvements will raise the value of your home, but hiring the wrong contractor will turn your dreams into a nightmare.

Find the perfect home improvement contractor by following a few simple steps. Always evaluate the contractor. Check out everything you can about the contractor before signing a contract.

Asking your friends for recommendations is a good place to start. See how satisfied they were with the contractor. Someone with firsthand experience will tell you if the contractor was professional, timely, on budget, and easy to work with.

Another good place to get recommendations is your local home improvement stores, such as paint stores, decorating businesses, tile stores, or cabinet stores.

You might not be satisfy with those recommendations and want to find more contractors. The power of the Internet makes it easier for you. Don’t need the yellow pages book, YellowPages.com or CitySearch.com. There’s Google of course. ServiceMagic.com is another good online resource for finding contractors.

Now that you have narrowed down your list of contractors, it’s time to check if they’re reliable.

Visit the contractor’s website. This won’t tell you how good their work is. A professionally done website will tell you how seriously they take their business. A good contractor will have a portfolio of their past projects with before and after photos.

Check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB) in your area. See if there are any unresolved complaints with the contractor.

Now it’s time to contact them; get an estimate, check their credentials, and call their references. Remember to verify that the contractor is licensed and insured. A reputable contractor will be happy to provide you with all the information you need to make the right decision.

Checking References
Do actually check their references. Don’t assume that they are good references. Don’t be shy. Call. Most people are happy to share their experiences. Some homeowners might be so proud of the work done on their homes that they’ll gladly show it off to strangers.

Get Competitive Bids
You may have chosen the top five contractors or maybe ten to get competitive bidding. Select the best bid. The lowest bid may not be the best, compare the quality of the materials. Examine the proposals carefully.

Read the Contract
Make sure that the contractor has liability insurance and that his employees are covered by workman’s compensation. Ask questions about anything you don’t understand. Do be afraid to ask for changes to the contract. If you need help with contract, ask your friends.

Once you are satisfied with the contract, sign it. Typically, contractors want payments installments, for example: payments 20% for materials purchase before starting, payments of 30% when the project is half completed, then pay the rest after the project is finished.

Make sure that the contractor obtains any necessary building permits.

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