{"id":5692,"date":"2022-11-15T14:08:08","date_gmt":"2022-11-15T21:08:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/?p=5692"},"modified":"2022-11-15T14:08:08","modified_gmt":"2022-11-15T21:08:08","slug":"8-best-practices-for-hiring-a-contractor","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/8-best-practices-for-hiring-a-contractor","title":{"rendered":"8 Best Practices for Hiring a Contractor"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignright\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"450\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Blog-Images-4.png\" alt=\"A homeowner and contractor shaking hands over a home improvement project.\" class=\"wp-image-5693\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Blog-Images-4.png 450w, https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Blog-Images-4-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 450px) 100vw, 450px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Home\nimprovement projects help make your dream home a reality, and to do that, you\nmay have to hire a home contractor. A home contractor, or general contractor,\nis employed by the homeowner to handle the material, labor, and equipment of a\nhome improvement project as well as oversee the day-to-day tasks. This is a\nhuge responsibility, and as the homeowner, you want to make sure you hire the\nright person for the job. Here are eight best practices for hiring a\nprofessional contractor who you can trust.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Research prospects<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>First, think about what <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/best-worst-home-improvement-projects-to-diy\">type of project it is<\/a>, and set your goals.\u00a0 Is it a small, medium, or large project? Are you making structural changes to your home? Asking these questions will help you narrow down qualified candidates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Ask friends, family, or other professionals in the industry for recommendations and which contractors will give you the best service and value. Look into any previous home projects they performed and the outcomes. Do your due diligence and check with your state or province&#8217;s consumer protection agency or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbb.org\/\">Better Business Bureau<\/a> to see if they have any history of disputes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Perform interviews<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Since\nthis person will be entering your home and bringing in subcontractors, they\nshould be someone you trust. Complete a phone interview or do a walk-through of\nthe project to vet your prospects and look for any red flags. Some common\nquestions to ask are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Have\nthey worked on similar projects?<\/li><li>Can\nthey provide references or a list of previous clients?<\/li><li>Are\nthey licensed to work in your area?<\/li><li>Are\nthey insured and bonded?<\/li><li>Can\nthey provide a detailed contract?<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\nWhen will they be\nable to start the project?\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get multiple bids<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Getting\nmultiple bids will give you more options and improve your chances of finding an\nideal candidate. Assess building materials, timelines, and how they approach\ntheir work to see if they are a good fit. This process will also help you\ncompare prices and make sure the contractor is providing reasonable and\nrealistic quotes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Even\nthough you have a budget, remember that you get what you pay for. An unusually low\nbid could mean that the contractor is cutting corners, using low-quality\nmaterials, or desperate for work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Get everything in writing<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>You\nand your contractor want the project to be successful, but that doesn&#8217;t mean\nthere won&#8217;t be bumps in the road. A well written contract will clearly outline\nexpectations and provide a protocol for handling disputes. It is a means of\nprotecting both parties. Some items in a contract should include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Milestones\nfor the project<\/li><li>Proof\nof liability insurance and worker&#8217;s compensation<\/li><li>Start\ndate and expected completion date<\/li><li>Specific\nmaterials and products<\/li><li>A\nrequirement that the contractor obtain a lien release<\/li><li>Payment\nschedule<\/li><li>Change\norder provisions<\/li><li>A\nguarantee that the contractor will file for all necessary permits<\/li><li>A\ntermination clause that details what factors will play a role should either\nparty terminate the contract<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Set a payment schedule<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The payment schedule should be outlined in your contract. It&#8217;s common for a contractor to ask for about 10 percent up front, 25 percent payments throughout the project, and the final 15 percent upon completion. If they request large portions of the bid up front, say 50 percent, then this is worth discussing with them. They may have financial issues or have concerns about getting paid on time. Never pay in cash, and always ask for a receipt of payment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Communicate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Schedule\ndaily or weekly check-ins so that your contractor can keep you updated on their\nprogress. Perform walk-throughs to inspect their progress and talk through any\nchallenges they may experience. This is a great way to make sure that you both\nare on the same page and that they are meeting milestones for the project. If\nthere are any misunderstandings, you&#8217;ll catch them quickly and be proactive\nabout correcting mistakes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Keep a job file<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Maintain detailed records of the project, including verbal and written communication, milestones, photos, certificates of insurance, and payment receipts. Keep a physical copy of the contract and update it with change orders. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before you make your final payment make sure they have completed the project according to the contract. Get physical copies of any warranties and payments to subcontractors and suppliers. Inspect the work and the job site and make sure it has been completely cleaned. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Be flexible<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Despite hard work and all the best intentions, the contractor still may experience unforeseen circumstances during the project, and this can be frustrating for any homeowner. There may be delays in receiving materials, or they may encounter conditions such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2020\/06\/04\/parenting\/mold-removal-safety.html\">mold<\/a> or rot that add time to the project. This is where open and consistent communication will help both of you navigate these obstacles. Discuss and document new timelines or change orders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Many\ngreat contractors are professional and take pride in their work. By being\nproactive from your very first meeting, you can work together to make your home\nimprovement project successful and achieve your dream home.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Home improvement projects help make your dream home a reality, and to do that, you may have to hire a home contractor. A home contractor, or general contractor, is employed by the homeowner to handle the material, labor, and equipment of a home improvement project as well as oversee the day-to-day tasks. This is a &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/8-best-practices-for-hiring-a-contractor\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">8 Best Practices for Hiring a Contractor<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mi_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0},"categories":[602,774,782,419],"tags":[649,3318,59],"yst_prominent_words":[6803,3485,4184,6802,999,546,6796,2539,4755,4771,1100,1220,6798,2139,6800,991,1002,1065,4735,1066],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5692"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5692"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5692\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5694,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5692\/revisions\/5694"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5692"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5692"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5692"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.realtyexecutives.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=5692"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}