Choosing a contractor to build your home is a very important decision a soon to be homeowner will make. Therefore, the decision of who will be hired for this responsible job will should not be taken lightly.
When you are looking for contractors, do not just speak with one company. Do some detailed research to locate a few companies in your area and check with them if they can meet you for an inspection and discussion. Also, ask them if they have a contractors bond to cover themselves. Below are a few pointers that will help you identify a good contractor.
Knowledge and Experience
When you meet with a potential contractor, ask them how long they have bene in business. Also, find out how many projects they have completed and what type of projects they specialize in. You can gauge their knowledge of the construction industry based on the answers they give you. If they have adequate experience, they should be able to help you understand every aspect of your project and even give you some advice on how you should proceed.
References
As with hiring any service provider, references are very important. Ask the contractor for references of recently completed jobs. If they happily give them to you, call and ask if the party was happy with the contractors work, and if possible go and have a look at the building the company constructed. If it has been built well and with good workmanship and materials then the contractor might be a good match for you. If you see that house is not in good condition and was built recently, it is a warning sign to stay away.
Get everything in writing
If you have selected a few companies that seem to be reputable, ask them for estimates in writing. Normally these estimates will come with a tolerance for unforeseen changes or works that need to be done. But make sure the contractor give you the tolerance percentage and ensure that they ask you before any changes are made. Collect at least three estimates and compare them for price and completion deadline.
Once you have picked a suitable construction firm ensure that they start work on time and deliver on the said date. One important thing that you must ask them is if they have insurance. A contractor should be liable for any issues arising from bad workmanship or for accidents that happen while the staff works on building your house.