Hiring a Remodeling Contractor: Things to Consider

Whether you've decided to give your bathroom a makeover, turn a drab kitchen into your dream space, or want to turn your garage into a rec room, a remodeling contractor can help you realize your aspirations. Before you get to work, however, you'll need to spend some time deciding who to hire. While you can always just choose based on attractive advertisements, they aren't going to give you any assurances as to the quality you'll get. Here are some things to consider that will help you make a better choice and be more pleased with your results.

Staying Within Budget

When you hire a remodeling contractor, you should be very clear about how much you have to spend and how far you're willing to go over an estimated price. However, even in the face of this clarity, some companies and individuals simply can't help but jack up the price continuously. This is why you need to find someone who is known for staying within the budget. Talk to others who have worked with this company and make sure this is one of their traits. While unforeseen circumstances can sometimes lead to understandable overruns, it shouldn't be a regular thing.

Respectful Crew

Remember, in many cases you're not just hiring a single individual to work on your project. A remodeling contractor will often come armed with a crew, so you need to know about them as well. Will they be respectful to the space they're in? No job of any magnitude can be done without some degree of mess, but there is a limit to how much you should stand for. Also, there is a difference between mess in the form of sawdust and plaster and mess in the form of soda cups and cigarette butts.

Pricing

One of the best ways to find a good remodeling contractor is to call several with your specifications and see what kinds of quotes you get on the job. Don't assume these quotes will be exact, but they should give you a good ballpark figure to work with. An important tip: don't automatically go with the company that gives you the lowest bid. While there's nothing wrong with a competitive price, there may be something wrong with a price that undercuts everyone else by a healthy margin. You have to then consider why that company can afford to work for so much less. The reasons are often unpleasant. Choose a company that offers a figure that is both within your budget and not out of line with industry standards.