Choosing a Remodelor
What To Look For
Price is an important factor, but not the only factor to
consider when choosing a remodelor. Choose your contractor based
on your sense of the overall value they can provide you, not the
lowest cost estimate. Remember that, other than the purchase of
your home, this is the most important decision you will likely
ever make. There is no substitute for the peace of mind you'll
receive by choosing a contractor that you trust and have
confidence in.
Start making a list with word-of-mouth referrals. Ask neighbors,
friends, relatives, Real Estate Agents and others you trust.
Call your local or state chapter of the Homebuilders
Association. Search the Web for local remodelors and builders.
Attend home shows. Drive through your neighborhood and call the
contractors on the signs in front of ongoing projects you like.
Questions to Ask
Once you have compiled a good list (3 to 6 companies) sit down
and review your purpose statement, ideas and information that
you have collected. Call each company for an interview. Some
companies may call you back fairly quickly, some may not call
back at all, and some may decline based on their workload or the
type of work you need done. Based on your phone conversations,
create your short list and schedule the interviews.
These initial interviews provide the opportunity to get to know
your renovators, to see how they relate to you as a customer,
and see what they can offer in terms of ideas and suggestions in
developing your plan.
You can increase your chances of having a successful project by
conducting meaningful interviews, following up on references,
and checking credentials.
Please
click here to view an interview worksheet with questions for
the interview.
Getting Quotes
You may choose to ask for quotes at the conclusion of a
successful interview or you may wish to tell the remodelor that
you will evaluate all the candidates before you call them back
for a quote. In any case you should contact all companies that
you interview and ask for a quote or tell them that you feel
they are not the best fit for the job. Generally, homeowners
should get two to three quotes to evaluate before making a
decision. When asking for a quote be sure to set a firm deadline
for submitting the quote.
Evaluating the Quotes
Once the interviews are conducted your next meeting will be to
discuss the quote. Often each company will take a different
approach to your project, each presenting their own ideas and
opinions about the best way to perform the work. This means
that, essentially, you'll be comparing apples to oranges and
it's up to you to figure out which company you feel offers the
best value (not necessarily the lowest price), which remodelor
you feel most comfortable with and which approach you think will
best integrate with your existing structure. |
