I know you’re excited about transforming your space/s into the vision in your mind. You’ve been pinning your favorite designs on Pinterest for inspiration, right? Creating ideabooks on Houzz. That’s good & a great place to start. It pays to do your research.

But before you get overly ambitious… jumping in full force, tearing out cabinets & tile…it is vital that you take the time to properly vet the person that will be responsible for coming in & out of your home & running your remodeling project in order to achieve the best results with the least amount of stress.

I’ve been a designer for almost 30 years & I’ve seen far too many clients overly exhausted & stressed out by the end of the project. In most cases, that could have been prevented by taking the proper steps in choosing a home remodeling contractor.

remodeling projects require a good amount of patience & professional guidance.

It will be tempting to skip some of these steps but I promise, you will never regret taking the time to do it right.

No decision should be rushed especially when choosing a home remodeling contractor.

Your remodeling project deserves the proper attention and you do too. There are a lot of qualifications to look for in the best contractor for your project so take the time & it will pay off.

This is YOUR home & will be for years to come. Whether your project is a single room or a major renovation you want it to be done right with no regrets. Let me help you get off to a great start.

Here are the 5 essential steps for choosing a home remodeling contractor

Let’s go…

1.where to search

Start with asking friends & family members who have used a home remodeling contractor. Find out if they have used them more than once, how they handled challenges when they came up and if they were good about communicating changes in the schedule, and whether they were responsive when they contacted them with questions & concerns. Did they show up when they said they would?

Be sure to look at the work they have done & make sure it’s up to your standards. Ask your friends or family if they were happy with the other tradesmen that the General Contractor brought in to do specific work. They all need to be up to par because that reflects directly back on the GC & the end result.

Although referrals are the best way to find a home remodeling contractor it’s always good to dig deeper.

Every home, every project & each & every one of us are unique. Think of it like choosing your doctor. A referral is good but not always enough.

Renovation projects take time, money & patience so it’s worth it to make an educated decision on who you choose.

Websites like Angie’s List are a good source for searching for home remodeling contractors. They do some of the vettings for you & hold high standards for who they represent. Most contractors don’t have websites but the good ones rely on this type of platform to represent their business. They pay good money to be listed on these sites too. This gives them some credit. It’s a place for them to gain reviews for you to browse through.

Contractors who take the time to be represented on professional websites show that they run a serious business.

2. what to look for

When you’re searching for a contractor you want someone who has established themself as a professional. Referrals & Reviews are helpful but dig deeper.

Have they established themself in a community where they are known for their work? Do they have a permanent address? How long have they been in business?

Do they have a portfolio or representation of their work on Houzz, Facebook, Pinterest, or Instagram? Not all the good ones will. Some of them are just so busy with working on projects, managing the schedule & running the basics of a business. However, there are good contractors that have a spouse or an assistant that does this for them. It’s always good to see photos of their projects.

Do they have any professional trade credentials such as Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR), Certified Bath Designer (CBD), etc.? It’s expected in almost every profession.

Are they licensed, insured & bonded? Things can go wrong and if they do, you want to be sure your contractor is liable for any damage.

A good contractor is one who has a natural talent & love for their work but professional training is always a plus.

3. interview 3

Whenever doing any project in your home narrow it down to 3 contractors to interview. This is a proven number to help you make an educated decision. Honestly, they expect this. I expect it when someone is hiring me as well.

This gives you a chance to see how you connect to them. They will be coming in & out of your home often. Your gut will tell you if this is the right person or not. If you’re a couple be sure that both of you are interviewing. One of you is bound to ask a question that the other won’t think of even though you should have a list of questions to ask prior to each meeting.

Have clear ideas of what you want to achieve & spend before you meet. If you haven’t already, be sure to read my earlier post What to Know Before Starting a Home Renovation. Keep in mind that they will be interviewing you as well. If you come across as indecisive about what you want or overly anxious about the cost, that’s a red flag that maybe you’re not ready to take on this project. A good contractor will recognize this & guide you on what you need to do before you’re ready to get started.

Have them look at the space during the interview. See how they respond to the project. A perplexed look could be a red flag that they are not up to the task. On the other hand, a contractor that points out potential issues or gives ideas to improve upon your design could be a great asset.

It’s likely you will learn something from each interview. This will put you in a better position to make an educated decision.

4.what to ask

Here’s a list of questions I provide to my clients. By all means, add to it. But it’s a good start.

1) Will you be the person performing the work?

Some General Contractors oversee their projects & have employees or subcontractors to implement the work. You will want to meet them as well before moving forward.

2) If not, will you be stopping by the job each day to check on the work being done?

Knowing that they will have eyes on the progress takes a huge load & responsibility off your mind. You should still check things yourself too but you shouldn’t expect to be the expert.

3) What time will you (or whoever) be arriving each day & what time will you (or whoever) stop work for the day?

You want a contractor that lives up to a reliable schedule. If they show any uncertainty here that’s a red flag.

4) Are you licensed, insured & bonded? Can you provide me with this documentation?

Even though they might say this on their website or whatever platform they are using the proof is in seeing it. They will be tearing into your walls & plumbing. That’s a big deal so don’t skip this step.

5) How long have you been in business? How long have you been doing home remodeling?

If they have only been in business for a short amount of time but worked for someone for a long time, ask for that reference.

6) Have you done projects similar to mine?

If you plan on moving walls but they have only been retrofitting kitchens & baths they might not be the right contractor for your project.

7) If there is a unique material your project requires like limestone floors or a marble accent wall…. Have you worked with this material before?

Some contractors work with the basic materials and are not familiar with the more exotic ones. You need to know this upfront to make an educated decision.

8) What is your payment schedule?

I prefer when contractors ask for 3-4 installments. This is when they are providing mostly the labor. If they are providing cabinets, countertops & other materials then they will require as much as 50%. They need to cover their costs too. Whatever it is make sure you are comfortable now & along the way.

9) Can you provide references for RECENT projects?

I’ve worked with contractors that were great in the past but sadly have gone through financial or medical hardships. It’s important to know that they are able to live up to your expectations & not just ride on past laurels.

10) Do you see any potential challenges?

I work with some really intuitive contractors. It’s like they can see through walls & up into attics unlike most of us. This is the kind of contractor you want. They will have your best interest & will know what to do when & if challenges arise.

11) When would you be available to start the work?

The best contractors will not be available to start next week. A busy contractor is busy for a reason because their really good at what they do. It’s worth the wait.

12) Ask if they are the ones coordinating the schedule for the tradespeople or if they have someone that does this for them. If they are doing it, ask if they will be providing a sequential schedule for primary construction tasks.

Some contractors are really good at juggling it all but keep in mind that they are doing it all & not always the best communicators of what to expect next. My preference is that they have an office person that does this for them. Someone you can always reach. But honestly, most do not. So ask for a schedule in writing before signing a contract.

One of the questions that most people will ask is How much will it cost? That’s really not a fair question to ask when first meeting with a remodeling contractor. There are so many variables & you don’t really want a hasty reply that puts them on the spot & you in an unrealistic mindset. In fact, for them to give you an accurate quote they will need all the details.

That’s what a designer like myself helps to provide since most homeowners don’t know what information to give them.

Once you can provide them with all the details they need that’s when you request a quote. Unless you have ruled one out by this time you should have all 3 of them present you with a quote that you can compare side by side.

5. Moving Forward with Your selection

Once you have all the answers you need to formulate your decision on choosing a home remodeling contractor now it’s time to make your decision. I can tell you that it probably shouldn’t be based on the cheapest or most available because both of those are red flags that they aren’t as experienced as the person you want.

A few years back I was working on a master bathroom remodeling project. I provided the client with the new floor plan, tile elevations & selected all the materials & fixtures. I gave them the name of a very reputable contractor that I had worked with on several occasions. There was nothing in it for me because I don’t ask my contractors for referral fees or commissions. I just thought he was a good fit for this project & client. I had already vetted him but I always ask that my clients make a sound decision on their own.

They met with him but were taken back by the fact that he wasn’t available to start until February. They wanted to start in January. So they hired another contractor that a neighbor had used. He had remodeled their neighbors’ basement. But when it came down to doing their bathroom renovation project he was in over his head.

They found him one day Googling how to do some plumbing work even though we had already provided him with all the plumbing specification documents. The next day he was working on staining the vanity but the serious work was left by the wayside. He was buying time & trying to learn along the way. It was clear that they had to do something now or their project was going to turn into a nightmare.

They called me & asked for me to get involved. I called the contractor I had referred in the beginning & pleaded with him to find a way to work their project in. He was able to juggle some things & make it work. The project turned out impeccable & within a reasonable time frame.

The funny thing is when I have contacted this client on occasion they tell me how they had Scott over to do this or that. They dream things up for him to do because they know he cares & know that he is truly an expert at what he does.

He was the expert they needed from the beginning.

The right contractor for your project will provide a formal quote for your project with all that is included. It’s likely that they will e-mail you the quote. Take the time to review it & be sure it covers everything you discussed. I highly recommend that you meet them in person to review it one last time before signing. This way you have the option to ask any additional questions. Do this as a couple if you are one. Treat it like you’re buying your home again. Take it seriously because you will regret it if you don’t.

Be sure their contract includes the following:

• specifics about the scope of work

• the site plan

• a sequential schedule of primary construction tasks

• a change-order clause

• a written procedural list for close-out

• an express limited warranty

• a clause about dispute resolution

• a waiver of lien, which would prevent subcontractors and suppliers from putting a lien on a house should their invoices go unpaid by the contractor

Before you give them a deposit have them provide you with an estimated start date. A good contractor usually can’t pin down an exact date because they need to finish up other job/s to start yours. You wouldn’t want them starting work on another project when finishing up yours so don’t expect them to do that to other clients.

In order for them to give you an estimated start date, they will want to know that your long lead time items have or will be ordered soon. There is no sense in them starting demolition if you don’t have materials for them to work with. If you haven’t already, be sure to read my earlier blogposts What You Need to Choose for Your New Kitchen & What You Need to Choose for Your New Bathroom.

If you expect your contractor to live up to their part of the bargain you need to also. The more materials you can have on location before starting the remodeling project the better off you’ll be.

Now that you know what you need to do for choosing a home remodeling contractor make your plan to get started. Do your search, know what to look for in a remodeling contractor, Interview 3, know what to ask, and move forward with your selection with confidence being sure that every i is dotted & every t is crossed.

Remodeling your home is a wonderful & exciting venture when you do it right.

I promise you that taking all the right steps will lead you to a successfully finished space. This will significantly help the renovation process go MUCH smoother.

Have fun & enjoy the process. The dream of remodeling your home is an exciting & rewarding venture when you choose a home remodeling contractor that is a good fit. Enjoy!

I Look Forward To Your Questions & Comments Below & Hope You “Like” This Blogpost.

If you need more direction on getting started consider my Local or Online Design Services! I’m here to guide you! My Finish Selection package might be a perfect place to start.