How to Hire the right Contractor

If you are thinking about hiring a contractor here are some helpful tips.

Take your Time
If you are trying to avoid serious money problems and headaches by choosing the right contractor, you need to do your homework prior to contacting any local contractors for quotes on your project. Whether you need to renovate a room or your entire house it will save you time, money and a lot of frustration if you are well organized and have your own knowledge in the process.

Not all contractors play by the same rules. Some cut corners to give you lower pricing as long as you have nothing in writing and pay them with cash. Beware of contractors who demand cash up front or "under the table" contractors who you don't know personally. Visit Find a contractor and also award winning Remodelnet.com to find reliable local Contractors, Designers, or Sub Contractors for your home improvement project in your local area.

Educate Yourself
You can find all kinds of valuable information by reading up on house construction and renovation at your local library. You can attend home improvement shows and see live demonstrations and learn about new products on the market. Try reading your local newspaper in the Home section and see what's new in design ideas and start to build your own file of ideas both from online and offline sources of information. Your can also watch and tape Television shows such as Bob Vila's Home Again . You can also find valuable information at the National Home Builders Association where you can learn more about home building. Another reliable source of information is Michael Holigan's Your New House Television Show online.

Get References
This may seem extreme, but get at least 10 references from a potential contractor and then call them all. Take the time to visit similar projects to yours and assess it's quality and workmanship. Professional contractors can provide a portfolio of previous work, including valid licenses and insurance information. This kind of information should be available from them without question.

Get A Signed Contract
Before your contractor starts any work, you should insist on a detailed contract including the contractor's contact information, a description of the work being completed, supplies to be used, as well as a list of any subcontractors and a detailed payment schedule. It is also key to make sure that you will not pay more than agreed to in the contract, unless you ask for extras or changes to design. Also, never give a contractor more than a minimum down payment previously agreed upon once the contractor begins work. Make sure you are able to reach the contractor directly by phoning him and testing his response time. You will also want to know who is overseeing the job in it's progress. Contractors will not only work on your project, they will be running many projects with other clients at the same time, so make sure the contractors shows up when he or she says they will.

Once the work begins, pay in lump sums according to the completed work being done to your satisfaction after each stage of completion as outlined in the contract. Make sure you look into covering yourself legally and investigate your legal rights prior to signing a contract in case you are dissatisfied with the work and you know your legal rights in removing a contractor from your property if things don't work out the way you want them to. You can never safeguard yourself enough.

If you are educated, organized and make yourself available to oversee your project, everything should go according to plan. The best way to make sure your project goes well is to be at your property for every step of the process yourself so that you make sure there aren't any corners cut by your contractor. After all you are the one who has to live with the results. Good luck with your project!