How to Hire a Home Addition Contractor

Your growing family needs living and sleeping spaces where they can relax after a long day. You may be apprehensive about adding a bedroom, a second level or a sun room onto your house due to a limited amount of money. You need to hire a home addition contractor who offers the best balance between high quality and low cost.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Preliminary sketch
• Time to call references
• Completed paperwork and permits

1. Generate a preliminary sketch and measurements of your home addition to provide potential contractors with an idea of the final product. You should test out a contractor's knowledge of home additions by asking his opinion on ways to improve the project idea.

2. Ask potential contractors to bring a list of references and a project portfolio along with their resume during an interview. You should be able to contact homeowners who utilized the contractor to determine her work ethic and skill.

3. Demand price quotes to be submitted in writing as you prepare to hire a home addition contractor. Email and phone quotes should only be used to narrow down your choices during the initial interview process.

4. Review an itemized list of costs and expenses that a contractor would accrue as part of a home addition project. Experienced contractors have regular access to suppliers and other vendors that can lead to a sample list of expenses from start to finish.

5. Work out a timetable for the completion of a home addition project as part of your hiring process. You should balance the minimum amount of time a contractor needs to complete a project with the maximum number of days you are willing to have laborers on your property.

6. Set contractor prices and services in stone with an agreement signed by all parties involved. You should determine local and state laws dictating contracts for services rendered to help keep contractors focused on your home addition.

7. Allow contractors on your list of finalists to generate a mock-up of your home addition to see their work in action. Contractors can utilize computer design programs and miniaturized models to show their approach to your project.

Tips & Warnings

• Request information on the origination of labor and materials used by a home addition contractor. You should hire a contractor who utilizes sustainable materials from local suppliers to cut down on overall costs.
• Laborers should be experienced in their areas of expertise and have verifiable references.
• Obtain building permits from city hall before you begin to hire a home addition contractor. You should pay all fees and complete paperwork to ensure that a contractor can begin work immediately.

[briangogreen]

on 6/21/2009 http://www.filife.com/stories/build-green-and-save

[stefyspeak]

on 4/1/2009 5* Thanks for the advice - I am getting ready to do an addition to my home.