Hiring a Building Contractor

Hiring a Building Contractor

Introduction

Building a new home or undertaking a renovation project is likely one of the largest investments most people will make in their lifetime. It can also be one of the most stressful experiences you encounter, so getting the right team on board is critical. Since you will be working with a contractor for a few weeks/months there has to be a certain level of trust and open lines of communication. Even if you have done this many times before, if you don’t have the right team on board, this experience could become your worst nightmare. Contacting previous clients is a good measurement of the contractors past performance. Here is a list of 12 critical questions to ask past clients.

Twelve Questions To Ask Contractor References

1. Was the contractors original quote accurate?

2. Was the project completed on budget?

3. Was the project completed on time?

4. Were you presented with any extra costs which you were not expecting?

5. Did the contractor request decisions on time?

6. Was the finances structured in a clear and understanding manner?

7. What was the contractor’s role during the project?

8. How many snags were identified at the end of the project?

9. How did the contractor respond to come backs?

10. Were there any sub-contractors that you would not recommend using?

11. How did the contractor perform under pressure

12. If you did another project, would you use the contractor again?

While contacting past clients is no guarantee that you will have a good experience, it will go a far way in providing a level of comfort on the contractors past performance. There are other checks that can be done but speaking to past clients is a critical one.