What to Consider When Hiring a Contractor

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You’ve got a renovation project, and it’s time to hire a contractor. Hiring the wrong one can be a very costly mistake, but with so many options out there, it’s hard to know what to look for. Here are some helpful tips to consider when looking for the right contractor for your renovation project:

Review Work History

The first step when hiring a contractor should always be to look into their work history. A reliable contractor will have an established track record that is easy to find. One of the easiest ways to get an idea of what your experience will be like is to read customer reviews. If a contractor has a lot of negative reviews, you can reasonably assume that your experience won’t be a good one. Find a contractor that has a history of doing reliable work and delivering on customer expectations, and then move on to determining if they are a good fit for your project.

Get Multiple Bids

Before companies hire to fill an open position, they interview multiple candidates; there’s no reason you shouldn’t follow this process as well. Get multiple bids, and take the time to ask each candidate important questions. Ensure that each one understands exactly what you are looking for, and can articulate it back to you in a way that makes sense. Each should also be able to clearly explain or negotiate terms of payment. Interviewing multiple candidates gives you the opportunity to see the strengths and weaknesses of each contractor, compare prices, and make a decision based on what’s important to you.

Verify Licensing & Insurance

This is a big one. Sometimes things don’t go as planned, and depending on what it is, it can mean a lot of money being spent to correct a problem. Always make sure that a contractor has proper licensing and insurance to ensure you aren’t stuck with the bill when things go awry. Repair costs aren’t the only concern when it comes to this. If a contractor and subcontractors do not have proper licensing or insurance, the homeowner can be held liable if they are injured on the job. This is one of the most important items to check off of your list when hiring a contractor.

Trust Your Instincts

In the end, your instincts are one of your greatest assets. If something doesn’t feel right with a potential contractor, listen to your intuition. Are you comfortable with their style of communication? Are you getting a consistent message from them? Do you feel good about their work history? If you answered no to any of these questions, that’s a red flag. Trusting your intuition is one of the best ways to avoid spending thousands of dollars on behalf of a contractor who does not deliver on your expectations.

Putting it All Together

Finding the right contractor can seem like a daunting task at first, but in the end, it can be broken down into a logical and manageable process. Always make sure your contractor has an established track record, and get bids from multiple contractors. Make sure they have proper licensing, and finally, trust your instincts. Following this process can make you successful in choosing the right contractor in the end.

DDK Construction, Inc. is a full-service construction company based out of Chaska, MN. We specialize in turnkey design-build construction for both residential and commercial markets. For more information, email us at info@ddkconstruction.com or call (952) 223-2728.