818.644.5253
Are You Insured?
All contractors should have insurance. The amount of coverage and limitations may vary but regardless they should at least have proof of liability insurance. The most common is General Contractors Liability insurance. This will usually pay up to two claims of $1,000,000.00 per year for damages cause by a contractor. There are many types of insurance for contractors and this is just one example. Before you start work on your site get a proof of insurance paper with your name and job address on it to know that you are covered. Most insurance companies can do this very easily at no cost to you or the contractor.
Do You Have References?
When a contractor comes to you to work on your home or property, ask him for references. Usually they will have a list of people they have worked for that you can contact and ask questions. Be specific,tell your contractor you want references from people he has actually done work for. His mother or sister do not count.
Do You Have a Contractors License For This Area?
Depending on the scope of your job, it is almost always the best idea to hire a locally established contractor. Most residential remodeling contractors usually work within one or two counties. The closer to your job-site the easier it will be when something unexpected arises,and it always does. If your contractor is based too far away this can be an issue. They should be licensed and be able to pull work permits in your area.
What Type of Materials Will You Be Using?
When going through the long and sometimes tedious ordeal of picking materials to be used in your new construction or remodel a lot can be discussed with little or nothing decided. Once you know what you want in the way of material make sure that it gets written into the contract. Such items can be types of flooring, counter-tops, solid core doors versus hollow core doors, etc etc . Down to what brand of paint they will be using. There can be a wide range regarding quality and cost, of similar sounding materials.
Can I See Some Examples of Your Work?
Most established contractors will have a portfolio of work to show you, or even better they can take you to a job where they have done similar work to what you want. This will allow you to inspect the quality of the contractors finished work and hopefully you can get some feedback on how well that particular job was run.
Do I Need to Get a Building Permit?
Depending on the scope of your job you will almost always need a work permit. Electrical and plumbing are a given, but things like roofing, siding, and painting often require work permits depending on local codes. If your contractor is resistant to or unable to pull a work permit this should send a red flag to you. It will usually be that they are not insured or licensed to work in your area.
What Type of Payment Schedule Do You Expect?
Most work other than very small jobs will require a series of draws. Draws are set amounts predetermined and written in the contract and are to be paid after a set amount of work has been accomplished. Some contractor may want an upfront payment to start your job. Stating that the payment is needed for material. Red flag!. Most jobs are more labor intensive at the start, with the materials to be needed later. Unless your work is very material oriented from day one, the contractor should not need much upfront money.
When Will You Start? How Long Until Completion?
Nailing down a start date is always a priority, and getting a tentative estimate of when work will be completed will allow you to schedule around this particular contractor. If your job-site is a large new construction or remodel you may have as many as six or more different types of contractors working on the same site. To know when one part will be completed allows you to schedule such things as electric,heating and air or painting contractor,etc.
Will I Need to Hire Other Contractors for Specialty Work?
Some General contractors do all of the work “in house”, meaning they have registered electricians and plumbers that do their work. Most though will sub-contract such things to specialty contractors. These can be chosen by you or the contractor may have electricians, plumbers, etc, that he has used in the past. If you trust your contractor to pick these subcontractors it can save you time because they have worked together in the past and are more accommodating to each others work. As far as cost it is always best to get more than one bid for any specialty work.
Can You Put This All in Writing?
Before you sign anything make sure you have it in writing. If something has not been put in the contract do not trust that it will get done or added later. Be specific and make sure your contractor knows you want specifics in the contract.Many arguments and loss of time and money could be avoided with a very specific contract. It give both you and the contractor a reference to fall back on if the job is large and takes a long time to complete.