How to Choose A Building Contractor

To get a good Quality of Building, the best way is choose a building contractor. These simple tips should get you on your way to choosing the right contractor for your job.

• Step1

By compiling a list of contractors that you may want to use. You can find them online, in the phone book, and by asking friends and relatives who they know or have used in the past. If you are using an architect, chances are that he knows about a lot of contractors in your area and can give you a list of contractors that he knows and trusts. He should be able to help you choose your contractor - but not push you towards using one specific contractor.

• Step2

Once you have a list of contractors, visit their websites, drive by building or homes they have constructed, and call them to get general information. Find out if they service your area, when they will be available to start your project, and get other basic information from them.

• Step3

You may be ready at this point to narrow your choice down to three or four contractors. Set up an appointment to meet with each contractor. During this meeting you will want to make sure that the contractor is licensed in your state and that he has general liability insurance. You should also ask for references - both work related and financial. Financial references are important because the contractor will be in possession of large amounts of your money - if he doesn't pay subs or suppliers, they can legally come after you! Find out how long he's been in business, what types of organizations he's a member of, information about his education, and what project types he's been involved in. Regarding your specific project, you'll want to know what his timeframe will be for starting and completing your project. Collect information from each contractor you meet with.

• Step4

It's time to do some research. Don't just get references, call them! Call your local licensing agency to make sure that he is in fact licensed and in good standing. If he's had complaints filed against them, they will know.

• Step5

As you get closer to making your decision, you can either issue an invitation to bid or you can decide to enter into a contract without going through a bid process. Many people choose to have numerous contractors bid their job so they can choose the lowest bid. However, choosing the lowest bid doesn't always guarantee the best job OR the lowest price. Some contractors bid low because they've forgotten to add part of the job and others bid low to get a job and will somehow manage to try to get more funds from you throughout the project. Be VERY wary of a bid that is substantially lower than all the others you receive.

• Step6

Once you've made your final selection, you'll need to start talking about the contract. No matter how small your job is, a written contract is extremely important. If you end up in court, a written contract is going to carry you much further than a verbal one. Remember, a contract is put into place to protect both you and the contractor. Before you sign any contract make sure that you have read and understand everything. It's a wise idea to pay an attorney for an hour or two of his time to make sure that the contract provides you adequate protection.

• Step7

Once you have chosen your contractor, stay involved! This is ultimately your project and no one cares about it as much as you do. Visit your job site, ask questions, pay attention to your pay applications, and if something doesn't seem right dig deeper.