Remodel Lesson #5: Contractor Hunt
The second floor trusses being delivered to the corner.
Contractors are busy these days, finding the right one is hard. Asking friends or neighbors is always a easy source for finding the right contractor. That’s how we found our go to contractor for almost 12 years now. For our HK5Corner project, we did the norm and interviewed more than one contractor. Interviewing helps you determine if the initial communication relationship can will be built between you and the contractor. Follow your gut! When we first purchased our home almost 20 years ago, we embarked several projects on the house in the first year. One of those projects was to transform the original 1959 guest bathroom to something less dated and uncomfortable. The toilet was slow low, and the bathtub was only big enough for a toddler. Who knew a bathtub could be that shallow.
Paley standing in the playroom after the trusses are installed.
During that first project, we interviewed and received three bids for the project. The first lesson when selecting a bid, if you are going to choose the cheap one. Do more research! My selection was a referral from a close friend who worked in the construction industry. The project moved slowly because the contractor crew wasn’t there daily and the clincher was the contractor sent me with the one of his crew members to Home Depot to pick out everything and purchase the items on the spot. Since the contractor was responsible for purchasing everything per the contract. The problem was is he didn’t list out allotment amounts for each line item in the contract. Just one the final amount. I am sure my expensive taste soured the relationship. All of the items were installed but when I noticed they weren’t installing new copper plumbing under the house, as noted in the contract, the contractor walked off the job leaving behind the remaining 5K payment and 25% work left. Including connecting the bathtub to the old plumbing they didn’t replace. Thankfully our friend swooped in to finish the job for us. He felt guilty and luckily he was a commercial plumber so they did one days of work and it was finished.
My mistake was not sitting down and doing an in depth interview with each contractor. If I had done a real interview with the contractor and gone over the handwritten contract. I could have avoided the problem in the end. Before interviewing your contractors, be sure you check off the tasks below, that way you can rest easily during the construction timeframe. Well maybe a little.
Drive-by Previous Projects: Ask for a list of projects that have been completed and simply do a drive-by the house to look at the overall construction details. You don’t need to worry about the design, but rather how finished the little details are. Look at the gables! If it’s two stories, was the transition between the two floors finished correctly. While you are driving by, jot down 2-4 houses you might want to look inside.
Site-Visit 1-2 Current/Recent Projects: Be sure the list of drive by projects includes one or two projects under construction. Your goal here is to look at the cleanliness of the job site. You want a contractor that understands the importance of clean and safe job site. Our contractor was always making sure his crew cleaned up. Be concerned not just for safety, but being prepared for inspections at any time. In my own neighborhood, I’ve seen seen job sites with a garbage pile busting out the permitter fence into a neighbors yard. Just to be clear, none of the crews we have worked with or interviewed fit that description of any jobs on our property the last twenty years
Look Inside 1-2 Finished Projects: After you have done the drive-by, give the contractor a list of the houses you would like to look inside. They will contact the owners an try to make an arrangement to view the house. When you visit the homes, always look up. The eyes are typically drawn to walls and floors, but the ceiling is always an after thought on a project. Plus, check out those bathrooms they did. Tile work is such a deal breaker for most homeowners, you are looking for uneven lines or jagged corners of tiles. Don’t focus on the design or cleanliness of the finished house. The details help you envision the finished project in your home. Contractors won’t give your address as a reference if you end up with major problems on the site.
Have fun finding your contractor. Talking to previous clients when you tour a house is also a good way to get an idea of your future working relationship.