The Job Interview

You have budgeted and crossed out and re-budgeted and are ready for the contractor to get going. But who will your contractor be? Do you let your fingers do the walking and pick a couple of names out of the phone book? The choice of your contractor is actually a crucial factor in the outcome of your remodeling project. Here are some questions you will want to know from each of the contractors you interview for your project.

How long has the contractor been in business? The contractor should have a business history in your area. If they are new, however, they may be willing to negotiate a better deal for you. Some contractors have been working for others for many years before going out on their own and are well qualified for your job. Keep in mind though that hiring a contractor to pick up where another has gone out of business can be costly, if at all possible.

Who will actually be involved with the project? Get names and phone numbers for everyone who will be working on your project and know who is to be contacted when the project supervisor is not around.

Work schedules are crucial. Are you going to be put on hold for a number of months? When will work begin and complete, day and date and when will work begin and complete, time of day? If there are changes, will the contractor contact you as to how long and why?

Does the contractor have his/her own employees or do they subcontract? How much and what parts of your job will be subcontracted?

If this is a large project, it might be a good idea to use a contractor with a design service available, or even a full service contracting firm.

Does the contractor cover his workers with workers compensation and liability insurance? You can ask for copies of the coverage for verification. Make sure your contractor is registered and licensed if it is required by your state by getting the license number and calling your town or county supervisors to confirm. Also check if any of the workers have trade certificates. This is a good indication of professionalism and quality work. The National Association of the Remodeling industry offers certifications for specific and general remodeling roles, such as Certified Lead Carpenter and Certified Kitchen and Bath Remodeler.

It is very important to get a list of references for work done on projects like your remodel. There should be at least three with contact specifics so you can get in touch with these customers. You may want to go see the project as well as ask the previous customer how things went. Here are some questions to ask a past customer:

Did the contractor and staff communicate well with you?
Were you happy with the conclusion of the job, its timeframe and its quality?
Did the contractor's business practices meet with your approval?
Were the workers punctual and were you comfortable having them around?
Would you rehire the contractor for another project or recommend him or her to your dearest friends?
Did the contractor meet the specifics of the contract?

Do not be afraid to refuse the contractor if

the license and registration or name and address cannot be confirmed
you feel pressured into signing a contract. Don't sign right away just because they say you get a special price "just for today". By the way, if you sign a contract in your home or anyplace other than the contractor's office you have a legal right to the three day window to rethink your signature. The contractor must let you know of this grace period in writing (Right of Recision) giving you the right to nullify the contract without any penalty.
you don't get any references
the contractor asks you to prepay the job or pay in cash to a worker rather than write out a money order or check to the company's name.
you have trouble communicating with the contractor or he or she is not accessible nor willing to become so.
the contractor does not appear to be listening to you and your project's needs
the contractor does not show you photographs of any of his/her previous work

It is extremely important to get absolutely everything in writing before you sign a contract. Go to your library and get some books on building contracts with samples and what to look out for.

It is also extremely important to remain in control of your money during the project. If you pay too soon, the contractor can skip town with your money. If you do not pay soon enough, the contractor will stop working on your project. These are items that must be clearly stated in the contract. Keep in mind that there is no standard payment plan for a remodeling project. There are typical payment plans however in which a deposit is paid when the contract is signed, generally 1/3 of the total cost of the project as stated in the contract. The second payment of 1/3 is given at the half way mark and the final payment at job completion. However, deposit is more than adequate. There are many reasons your deposit can disappear before any work is accomplished including acquisition by the IRS for back taxes (a tax lien) and misappropriation by giving your money to pay for past materials.