Editorial in Enterprise Newspaper April 2009: Avoiding a Contractor Catastrophe
You’ve taken the plunge and are actually committed to that remodel you’ve been saving up for. Now all you need is someone to complete it for you, but you want to avoid having one of those “contractor catastrophes” happen to you:
- You give a contractor a deposit, and they never show up to start the job.
- You have to call them each day to determine if they are coming to work on your job.
- They take “a lot longer” to complete the job than they told you.
- The job ends up costing twice as much as they told you.
To avoid a catastrophe and find a worthy firm, here are the fundamental requirements you should be looking for:
Contractor Interview Checklist 101:
- Are they a “true design/build” firm? If the company you’re talking to doesn’t have all of the designers and builders in one office (not subcontracted from other offices), the process is simply inefficient and is going to cost you MONEY. There will be a disconnect between design, estimating and building staff which can lead to misunderstandings, time lost, and bad coordination on the job. Why settle for this?
- Zero tolerance for “allowances” and “change orders”. There is no reason you ever need to experience an allowance or change order. If ALL of your material selections and scope of work are specified thoroughly in writing in advance of construction, allowances and change orders should be eliminated. Ask the firm you are interviewing what their process is for design and estimating. You don’t want to find your self making selections in the middle of construction; which can be stressful enough just from the dust and inconvenience. You want to know every piece of what is going into your remodel from the onset.
- A “smaller company” isn’t necessarily “cheaper”. The guy down the street who works out of his pick up may appear as a less expensive option than the established firm, but is he? Is he going to quote a less expensive price and then add multiple change orders driving up the cost? Does he have the funds to order and secure your materials in advance? Can he pay his employees or will they walk out in the middle of your job? Are his subcontractors trustworthy enough to leave in your house alone without you? You have to ask yourself, would you buy a parachute from the lowest bidder??? If not, why trust the lowest bidder to your home improvement investment?
- History and reputation: Is this firm new to remodeling, or have they been established and have a good reputation? If the firm performs good work, they will have a long list of references. Ask for them and make some phone calls.
To summarize, check for a true design build firm with all the professionals you need working together in one office. Inquire about their systems and ask how they will perform the design and estimating work. If they can’t describe a structured system that allows for complete selections and scopes in writing in advance, look elsewhere. Finally, remember that an established reputable firm, while not necessarily the lowest bidder, can save you money in the long run.
If you would like to interview a true design build firm with specialized professionals and a system that eliminates allowances and change orders, call Estate Homes today for a free, no obligation, in-home consultation on your remodel project. Estate Homes specializes in remodels ranging from baths and kitchens, to additions, whole house renovations, and new custom home construction. 425-743-3373. To learn more, go to www.estatehomes.net.