Even the smallest home remodeling projects can turn into a major time and financial investment. The last not-so-minor home remodeling project I took on was remodeling our half bath, and, boy was it much bigger than anticipated. (Shocker, I know.) That’s why finding the right home remodeling company is critical to alleviate the stress that goes along with any home remodeling project.
The fact is that professional home remodelers have the tools, experience, and expertise to get the job done better and faster in almost all cases.
So how do you choose the right home remodeling company for the job?
With the right research, you can be sure to make a wise and careful decision. Here are a few points to consider when researching local home remodeling companies.
- Reviews – In the age of the Internet, referrals are easily at our fingertips. A quick search of local home remodelers will turn up plenty of good AND bad reviews of most companies. You can get a wealth of information from professionalism to communication skills to expertise and so much more. Places like Google and Yelp usually have plenty of valuable info, but for even more unbiased and detailed reviews, Angie’s List could be a good investment even if only temporary.
- BBB – Check the Better Business Bureau for their stats and make sure they have a clean track record.
- Check references – Often times, you can reach out to people who have placed reviews, positive or negative, to ask them who they DID use or how they felt about the project now, asking specific questions that are of importance to you.
- Interview the contractor – Call the home remodeler and speak to them. Ensure that they are licensed and insured, especially in your jurisdiction. This part is critical. There’s nothing worse than finding out in hindsight that you hired a home remodeler whose insurance did not cover them in your area. When clarifying that they are in fact insured, make sure that this includes liability, worker’s comp, and auto insurance for the company vehicles. Be sure to take note of their communication in the initial conversation. This will give valuable insight into the communication process that you would experience if you chose to hire them as your home remodeling contractor.
- Check their certifications. This can speak volumes for their expertise and experience. Being certified by professional organizations such as NARI (National Association of the Remodeling Industry) or NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association) gives them the industry seal of approval.
- Once you have performed your due diligence and feel comfortable choosing the best home remodeling company, be sure to have crystal clear contracts and understanding up front. Getting your questions answered up front almost always mitigates issues that crop up on down the line. Some points to clarify:
Work out clear starting and finishing dates, including any milestone deadlines depending on the scope of the project.
Ask them what time they plan to start in the morning and when they will wrap things up in the evening so you can plan your day accordingly.
Determine who will be your point of contact and make sure that all communications go through that person. Also, be sure to communicate any changes, concerns and questions via email to keep a log of communications in the event that it becomes necessary to refer to it at some point in the future.
Be very clear about any special care of your personal property that the home remodelers will be working around and ask them how they plan to protect and care for your belongings.
Plan ahead of time the process for any change orders again being sure to include some form of written communication in the process.
Decide a good time for you and the home remodeling contractor to meet on a weekly basis and agree upon the best times to meet outside of those weekly meetings as there will inevitably be needs and concerns that will come up throughout the home remodeling project.
Have a plan for after hour emergencies. What happens if there is a plumbing leak? Be sure you work out with your home remodeling contractor a plan for incidentals.
Talk about the project completion and delivery project. There should be some sort of paperwork given at the end of the home remodeling. There should be some language as to how you will sign off on the project and what their guarantee is on their work.
Home remodeling projects can be daunting, but if you have a well thought out plan and a highly capable home remodeling contractor in your corner, the job can be fun and fulfilling.
Good luck with your home remodeling project!
Elite Construction and Building is located in Asheville, NC and serves Western North Carolina and Upstate South Carolina. They offer custom home building, porch and basement construction, kitchen and bath remodeling, tile, hotel construction, disaster repair and custom woodworking services.
Contact them for a free design consultation today: 828-302-4108