How do you hire contractors when you’re starting a home renovation project? Do you look for the cheapest, or the friendliest, or someone you know from your social circle? Do you hire a carpenter to act as your general contractor? Or do you assume that role yourself? In our experience, we find that these approaches are mistakes.
The truth is, whether you’re doing a kitchen upgrade, a bathroom update, an addition, or whole-house renovation, investing the time to find an experienced full-service general contractor with excellent project management skills is the best way to achieve your desired project results. Without project management, solid design acumen, and professional drawings, the following problems can and do occur:
- The carpenter doesn’t know how high to set windows relative to the door height and the specified trim details, causing windows and doors to look “off” and the wrong trim to be installed.
- The tile subcontractor lays the tile incorrectly because he doesn’t know what the installation pattern should be.
- The insulation expert makes a hash of the insulation work and soils other new work already completed, thus voiding factory warranties on those products and materials.
- The HVAC subcontractor installs ducts randomly, which means you get an unattractive soffit when it might have been avoided.
In the end, the homeowner is unhappy, the project does not turn out as expected, it takes too long to complete, and it costs more to fix the mistakes.
The good news is all of these unfortunate problems can be completely avoided by hiring a well-known remodeling company that has substantial experience in managing renovations. Look for general contractors who have good communication skills, understand the personalities and quirks of each of their craftsmen, and know how to get the very best from them. Look for project managers who meet the following criteria:
- They are licensed and insured
- They have been in business for a reasonable amount of time and have experience in completing a project like yours
- They work from plans and a detailed budget, as opposed to scribbling notes on a napkin
- They have an office, instead of working out of a truck
- They have employees covered by health, workers compensation, and liability insurance
- They have professional certifications/affiliations, such as National Association of the Remodeling Industry, National Kitchen and Bath Association, Remodelers Advantage, and/or the U.S. Green Building Council
- There are no homeowner claims registered against them; check the Better Business Bureau or Homeowners for Better Building, etc.
- They are RRP/EPA Lead Safe certified
- They offer customer references and welcome you to check them
P.S. The start of the summer remodeling season is upon us. If you’re in the greater Philadelphia metro region, please call us for help.
Image: 401(K) 2013