10 Tips for Hiring a Home Improvement Contractor

10 Tips for Hiring a Home Improvement Contractor

When the words "home improvements" are used to describe home renovations, it's obvious there's a major project involved and not just a simple one day job like a leaky faucet repair, or a new electrical outlet that's being installed. And of course there are major expenses that accompany major projects. There might be one major project that needs to be done, like the installation of a new kitchen, which can be pretty substantial in itself, or the project might entail a complete new multi-room addition that is being built for grandma. Either way, whenever hefty expenditures on projects like these are anticipated, you must make sure that your money is well spent by hiring a reputable contractor.

Statistics from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) show that home improvement contractor related complaints are one of the top five categories received by them every year. Even worse is that their data shows actual scams by "supposed" home improvement contractors are in the top three categories that they receive. Hiring a contractor you know nothing about is a serious mistake and can lead to a botched job and lots of wasted money. Whenever possible, homeowners should hire a local contractor with a good reputation to avoid getting burnt by an unknown fly-by-niter, who could take off and leave them with shoddy work, right in the middle of an unfinished job.

There are important details that may be overlooked by homeowners who haven't had experience hiring contractors for major projects, and when these items get overlooked, the major project turns into a major burden and a major headache. There are some basic, and some not so basic, steps that can be taken to protect your investment and ensure that the work is done properly.

To help homeowners in this respect, the BBB has developed the 10 recommendations that will help avoid the usual home improvement pitfalls:

1. Contact the local office of the BBB to find out if there are previous complaints about a contractor or company.

2. Always get at least three bids from different contractors to compare rates and show how the work will be performed according to your specifications.

3. Make sure the contractor has the proper license(s) required to do all of the work.

4. Verify the contractor's liability insurance. This is important to protect you from any damage.

5. Get references from at least three other jobs that the contractor has completed.

6. Before any work begins, develop a written contract that describes in detail all of the work to be done, the cost, the warranty period and specific dates for starting and completing the work.

7. Develop a payment schedule for work completed. Usually a third down, a third at the halfway point and the final third upon completion and final inspections.

8. Obtain warranty documents and instruction booklets for all items installed.

9. Ask for verification that all workers hired by the contractor are bonded to protect you against theft and damage.

10. Get the names of all of the workers and check to see if any of them have a criminal record.

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