January 30, 2013

8 Questions to Consider Asking A General Contractor

By: rbonnevie / Projects

There are many general contractors out there, how do you decide who will work on your home. Word of mouth is a great way to do this because you get a genuine opinion of company’s craftsmanship. The critique of the work is being given by family, neighbors or friends so you know you are being steered in the right direction. If you don’t have those references from a familiar source how do you find the right contractor? You want a contractor you can feel confident with and can trust. One great solution is asking the right questions in an interview process as you are requesting estimates from contractors for your project.
1.       Q. How long have you been in business?
It’s optimal to look for a general contractor with an established business history in your community. Most contractors are proud of their history in the industry and want to share their experience with you. Many will have reference lists and testimonials, ask the contractors you are interviewing for these. This can be a great tool in the decision making process between contractors.
 
2.       Q. How do you operate, do you have a crew or do you sub out the work?
You want to get an idea of how is the company is organized. Do they have employees or do they hire sub-contractors? Do they have a project supervisor or lead carpenter to oversee the job? You should know what parts of your project will be handled by employees and which will be contracted out to independent contractors.
 
3.       Q. Who will be assigned as project supervisor for the job?
It’s good to know who will be in charge. Who you can go to throughout the project with your questions and concerns, and who will be responsible for the schedule and flow of your renovation.
 
4.       Q. What is the time frame for starting the project?
While still in the interview process it’s a good time to ask when your project will be started. Many general contractors are working on multiple projects at a time and schedule projects in advance. This means your idea of the start of your project may not fit the contracts schedule. This could be a factor for choosing which contractor you go with. You should also ask:  What would be the estimated time for completion? How early will your crew begin working each day? When will they typically end each day? Will I be contacted about schedule changes and delays and by whom? These questions can give you a good idea of how organized and functioning a contracting company can be by the responses your given.
 
5.       Q. Do you have design/specification services available?
If you are considering a large involved project you will need design services. Does the contractor have design-build capabilities? If not you may need to consider hiring an architect as well. Depending on the size and scope of the project you may also need a structural engineer.
 
6.       Q. Is the contractor licensed and insured? 
It’s best to employ a contractor within your area whose business is established. Local re-modelers are compelled to perform quality work that satisfies their customers to keep their business successful. Many states require licensing for contractors, check your states local licensing agencies to ensure the general contractor meets those requirements and you could ask the potential contractor to see a copy or their current license to ensure they meet the requirements and are up to date. Ask to see a copy of the remodeling contractor’s certificate of insurance with the name of the insurance agency to verify coverage.  Most states require a contractor to carry worker’s compensation, property damage and personal liability insurance. Make sure the contractor’s insurance coverage meets all the minimum requirements.
 
7.       Q. How much should my remodeling project cost?
This will depend on the size and scope of your project and contractors will need time to put together a proper estimated bid proposal. The materials you choose, size of the room(s), and age of the infrastructure will be just some factors that can impact the cost. Remember when you are comparing bid proposals from contractors they are all formulated from the same scope of work, so if you get one proposal that seems too good to be true, it probably is.
 
8.       Q. How many estimates should I get for a remodeling project?
There are a couple different ways you can go about it, conventionally three estimates for a project is a good way to start. If a contractor comes highly recommended by a trusted source, if you feel comfortable after meeting and talking to them it may not be necessary to get additional estimates. It’s never a bad idea to get at least more than one. Again if you get an estimate that seems too good to be true, it probably is. If the estimates are vague and you cannot interpret that information, go back to the contractor for clarification in writing. If you are unable to get adequate written clarification, it may be wise to eliminate that remodeling contractor from the bidding process.

 

These questions were based off National Association of The Remodeling Industry’s (NARI) web site. http://www.nari.org/homeowners/findapro/

Here are some questions NARI members recommend you ask before signing a remodeling contract:

  • How long have you been in business?
  • Who will be assigned as project supervisor for the job?
  • Who will be working on the project? Are they employees or subcontractors?
  • Does your company carry workers compensation and liability insurance? (Always verify this information by calling the agency. A copy of an insurance certificate does not let you know if the policy is still current. Even if the certificate has an expiration date, you cannot tell if the insurance has been canceled by either party. If licensing is required in your state also ask if the contractor is licensed and call to verify compliance with the law. Not all states offer or require licensing. Check with your local or state government agencies.)
  • What is your approach to a project such as this?
  • How many projects like mine have you completed in the past year?
  • May I have a list of references from those projects?
  • May I have a list of business referrals or suppliers?
  • What percentage of your business is repeat or referral business?
  • Are you a member of a national trade association?

Select a contractor you trust based on his references, abilities and experience with such a project NOT on the price… you have heard of the old saying you get what you pay for. That said if a contractor is working on a limited budget something’s got to give and it’s usually quality of materials or workmanship or both.

 

It’s important to realize that it’s not just the answers you get that are substantial, but what you don’t get. Asking the right questions is not enough. You need to pay attention to your instincts and to what information is missing. Your General Contractor/Renovation Contractor will be a part of your daily life and available for some on-the-job education. He or she will be privy to your personal life, more so than your doctor or lawyer. Your contractor will know how you look early in the morning and how well behaved your dog is. It makes sense that you should take some time to carefully select this person and make sure that it is someone you can ask questions of and feel comfortable with day in and day out.

 

Once you do find that right contractor, you can get down business and start to develop your specification for the project to include any design work that may need to be done. This is something that is highly recommended on larger scale projects as no two people will imagine things the same way. Once these are done a concise estimate can be developed and should have breakdowns of costs associated with the project. NOTE: BEWARE OF LUMP SUM PRICING!  This should be a big red flag as it leaves way too much latitude for poor quality of materials and workmanship.

Bonnevie Construction services town’s in Southern NH and Norther MA including (but not limited to): Amesbury MA, Newbury MA, Newburyport MA, Hampton NH, North Hampton NH, Exeter NH, Stratham NH, Portsmouth NH, and many many more.