4 Tips for Hiring a Home Improvement Contractor

Choosing the right contractor can make all the difference for a successful home renovation project. Here are some tips to help you find a contractor who will get the job done right.

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Below are 4 tips for hiring a home improvement contractor:

Ask for Referrals
Start with your friends and family and then check in with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry for a list of members in your area. You can also talk with a building inspector, who’ll know which contractors routinely meet code requirements, says This Old House general contractor Tom Silva, or pay a visit to your local lumberyard, which sees contractors regularly and knows which ones buy quality materials and pay their bills on time. Source: ThisOldHouse

Check for References
Before you even start calling the contractors, check for references. On social media sites, reviews come up when you search for a service. You can also check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB)in your area. See if there are any unresolved complaints with a given contractor. Choose one that has no record of complaints, or one where the complaint was resolved to the consumer’s satisfaction. Be aware that a new contractor or one that changed his legal name to dodge complaints may not have any record of complaints with the BBB, so it is important to follow all of these steps. Source: wikiHow

Get it in Writing
After selecting a contractor, take a look at the documents he or she has prepared. Do they look professional? Scrutinize the contract. Does it seem fair and balanced? And make sure the legal agreement includes the following:
- a bid price and payment schedule
- specifics about the scope of work
- the site plan
- a sequential schedule of primary construction tasks
- a change-order clause
- a written procedural list for close-out
- an express limited warranty
- a clause about dispute resolution
- a waiver of lien, which would prevent subcontractors and suppliers from putting a lien on a house should their invoices go unpaid by the contractor Source: HGTV

Be Upfront About Your Budget
If necessary, break the project down into multiple phases. Although this may increase the total cost due to repetitious start-up expenses and inflation, it may also be a better option for you to spread out the cost over time. Homeowners can often save money by doing some tasks on their own, such as cleaning and painting. Source: AngiesList

Contact:
Kerrisdale Roofing & Drains
8279 Ross St, Vancouver, BC V5X 4W1
(604) 360-2114

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