Starting a home remodeling project can be such a good idea. If your house looks old and outdated, it’s about time to give it a major facelift. Whether you want to turn your bathroom into a Zen-like space, remodel your kitchen for safety and aesthetics, or have a full house renovation, a remodeling project can make all the difference.
But when it comes to this, you have the option to pursue a Do-It-Yourself (DIY) project or leave this project to the expert. Of course, the latter can be your best option. Hiring the right contractor for your home renovation can ensure the overall success of your project.
If you’re looking for a contractor for your home remodeling project, here are five key factors to consider:
1. License and Certification
When looking for prospective contractors, you can either search online or get some recommendations from neighbors, friends, and colleagues. After doing your homework, you’ll have a list of names to choose from.
Of course, the first few things to consider are their licenses and certifications. It’s best to work with someone who has the license to operate in the construction industry. Also, one must have undergone the necessary training and certification in home remodeling.
That said, be sure to research what legal requirements are set for contractors in your country or state. For instance, check to see if they have CSCS green cards for laborers, blue cards for skilled workers, or red cards for experienced workers as a certification requirement in the UK.
2. Insurance
Apart from the license and certification, insurance plays a crucial role among contractors. As much as possible, you want to work with a contractor who has insurance. In case of an unforeseen accident, your contractor will be financially protected. At the same time, you won’t be held financially and legally liable.
That said, ask if they have worker’s compensation and/or liability insurance. Should your hired contractor have an injury on the construction site, he’ll be financially covered by the insurance provided by his employer or agency. If he commits serious damage to your property, his insurance will pay for the damage repair or even part replacement.
3. Industry Experience
At this point, you must have narrowed down your contractor list into a few worthy prospects. For sure, these prospects have a license, certification, and insurance coverage. To further filter your list, check their portfolio and factor in their industry experiences.
One of the crucial questions you should be asking during the interview is: how long have they been in the construction industry? Of course, the longer they have been in the home remodeling business, the better.
However, you must consider their project results as well. This means that you must equate their experiences with quality services. If it helps, check online reviews about their previous home remodeling projects and ask past clients for feedback.
4. Field of Specialization
Know that contractors have their areas of expertise in the construction industry. That said, check their portfolio and see what they specialize in. Below are some areas of home renovation to consider:
- Full home renovation: Most general contractors perform a full house renovation. If you’re looking to give your home a major haul, then hiring this type of contractor can be your best bet.
- Bathroom remodels: Some contractors specialize in renovating bathrooms like installing fixtures, performing plumbing works, or incorporating bathroom designs. If you’re looking to transform your bathrooms, consider hiring this kind of contractor.
- Kitchen remodels: Many contractors pay attention to kitchen renovation projects as the kitchen is the most used and abused at home. If you’re looking to foster safety and enhance the aesthetics of your kitchen, get a kitchen remodeling contractor.
- Other home improvement projects: Some contractors have particular fields of specialization in construction. While some perform deck and patio installation, a few others focus on walkway or pathway construction. Some perform home exterior paintwork, while some specialize in carpet, tile, and laminate flooring.
5. Project Bid
The last on the list is the overall cost that a contractor would charge. When it comes to this, be sure to obtain project bids from three to five of your prospects. A bid is a brief proposal showing the estimated cost of the project. This proposal includes the project timeline, the recommended material types, labor requirements, and the overall project cost.
After reviewing their project bids, you can now choose the right contractor. Keep in mind that picking the cheapest contractor is such a bad idea. Be sure to opt for quality services without emptying your pocket for your home remodeling project.
The right contractor can kick your home remodeling project up a notch. But when looking for one, factor in the license and certification, insurance, industry experience, the field of specialization, and project bid. Ultimately, hiring the right contractor can be instrumental to the overall success of your home remodeling project.
