Renovation Ideas Blog

Hiring the Right Contractor Part 1

  

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Hiring the right contractor can be easy if you follow some simple steps and have a understanding of how contracting works. I suggest reviewing the information at Remodeling Boot Camp.

We will start with how contracting works: In a nut shell a contractor is asked to provide a proposal for a scope of work. Sometimes they are given architectural drawings and sometimes the client explains what they want done. Regardless, the contractor must obtain from the owner "a scope of work" in order to put pricing together. Unfortunately this is where mistakes can be made because of different interpretations between the architect, client and the contractors. This is why you can get five prices from different contractors and end up with five different prices. Now don't get me wrong, the price fluctuation is not solely based on interpretation but its a big part of it. We will get into some of the other reasons why the prices can be different a little later.

I first want to tell you how to minimize interpretation errors. The best way to make sure you are giving the same scope of work to each contractor is to outline it on paper and give each contractor a copy. If you have architectural drawings to hand out, provide a supplementary list of clarifications. Trust me when I tell you the plans may not contain enough information to combat contractor interpretation errors. Also request that each contractor outline the scope of work that they have included in their proposal. One last very important thing is to ask the contractor to include anti-change order clause in their proposal. What I mean by this is that many contractors will purposely leave out items in their proposal which lowers their bid and contract price only to hit the client up with change orders during the project. When this happens, you lose control of your budget and in many cases you end up spending more than the highest bid you received.

Ok - now to some of the other reasons your proposals come in at different prices: contractor cost of doing business may be different then others, cheap vs. skilled labor, inferior vs. quality workmanship, poor vs. good business skills, insurance vs. no insurance, etc, etc, etc. Keep in mind that a professional company will have insurance, skilled labor, quality workmanship, an office staff to support the field operations, etc. so most pricing provided by professional companies will be in the same ballpark. If there are price variations with professional companies you can consider, expierence, communication skills, references, photos, professionalism, response time to your emails or calls, etc.

Stone Creek Builders -- www.stonecreekbldrs.com provides clients with professional building and remodeling services.