How to Hire a Contractor

Okay you have owned your home for a long time now and you are ready for some changes, or maybe you need more room, perhaps you are having a baby and need to add a bedroom. Whatever the case may be you know that you need to hire a professional to do the job and do it right

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. 
   town office to obtain a permit

   The first step before hiring anyone is to do some research. Not only on the contractor but on the towns ordnances as well as checking with local authorities to see if you will have permission to do what you want to do. There is no sense wasting everyone's time including yours if you cant complete a project that you are unable to finish due to town restrictions

2. After you have the permission and know what you want to do, It is time to research the professional field of contractors. First go to friends or family to see who they have hired and what kind of work has been done. Remember associate your project and compare apples to apples. Don't hire the neighborhood gardener to re plumb your house...( little humor)but this is true, Most people will hire a friend even if they know that person is a little less than qualified just to save money or help the neighbor out.

3. Call your local town office and ask for a list of registered contractors in your area. You can also go on the web site to see if any citations were filed or if there are any court cases pending on said contractor. Remember no one is perfect and some times you will see imperfections on people. You have to use common sense and discretion

4. Next call a total of 3 contractors and get all their estimates in writing. Don't be impatient a good contractor takes his time on the proposal. He or she will spell out everything right down to the last screw. You don't want the cheapest and don't want the most expensive. But you want to feel comfortable with the person you hire, Remember they will be around you a lot perhaps for months or a year.

5. You will want to ask questions so write them down. If you have a spouse make sure you both agree fully to the project and both like the contractor. Make sure you have a resend clause, never pay more than a third at a time ( most states have a law in affect the contractor is allowed a third but cannot accept full payment until job is complete and you have a certificate of occupancy in hand)

Tips & Warnings

• trust your instincts
• look over the cotract very good
• look for a three day resend clause
• look for change order clauses
• be patient
• never pay in full
• keep records
• do research on all contractors

[goodselfme]

on 9/4/2009 Tx for the valuable home info on hiring a contractor.5*