" idea + construction - the infomation that you need to know... ": FINDING A QUALITY CONTRACTOR ?

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Tuesday, June 21, 2005

FINDING A QUALITY CONTRACTOR ?

Contractors can be found in many different ways. Finding a good contractor can be easy or difficult depending on your level of experience. For most homeowners, who are planning an addition for a growing family or simply needing a kitchen or bathroom renovation, finding a competent and reliable contractor is critical to a successful and satisfying home improvement project.

First thing you need to do..
- please discuss with those who is involved, your husband or wife. If not, it's surely will cost you a lot more than the quotation that been submitted. For example, in the middle of the renovation works, if you want to add or change the original plan, this is surely will cost you more.
- please make sure that you already know what you really want for your house before the renovation take place.
- please make sure you have a budget in mind and the cost estimate submitted to you is within or below your budget.

Trying to get the best deal ?
- please stay away from the lowest quotes contractor.
Why ? Because these quotes are usually much lower than everyone else, and maybe your job can't be done effectively for the price that you was quoted. In most cases, by not taking the lowest quote you are saving yourself and the contractor some heartache. If you awarded the contractor the job, he most probably wouldn't make any profit, and there is a chances, that you will have to spend more money paying someone else to finish their work. Any of you who have ever had to pay someone else to finish another person's work can attest that the overall job winds up costing a lot more than if you had just deal with even the most expensive person from the start.

Other factors to consider when qualifying a contractor include the following:

How long have they been in business?
more experience is the better.

How well do you communicate with them?
Find someone who sees eye to eye with you and understands what you are trying to accomplish.

Do they want a long-term relationship?
Some contractors are just "working for the weekend."

How are their current jobs coming along?
Visit the job sites and talk to the owners.

Do they have any references?
Check out the names that they give you, bearing in mind that they should be investors who have had some experience in dealing with contractors and thereby formed a basis for comparison. Find out if these former clients were satisfied with the quality of the work as well as the time it took to complete the job. Ask if they would use them again.

Does the contractor guarantee the work?
A good contractor will want surely ensure your satisfaction . Ask what kind of guarantees the contractor offers on the kinds of work to be done on your home.

How to avoid a renovation works that didn't work for you...
- please request from the contractor a list of drawing such as a plan or a realistic perspective drawing. ( to make sure the contractor is 100% understand with your idea's )

example of plan ( Puan Anita Apartment )

example of perspective drawing ( Puan Hasna House )

- make sure the contractor give you the sample of material and a brand of paint that will be use.
- ask the contractor to provide you their schedule of works. ( to ensure that you will get your renovation works complete on time. )
- discuss of the term of payment deeply and carefully with the contractor ( to avoid an additional cost )
- make sure you get a good contract with detailed specifications. The most important thing in the contract is that it specify exactly what you want. ( to avoid the additional cost. )
- please do a spot-check, to check whether the contactor do their works accordingly to the specification that already indicate in the drawing.
- always keep in touch with the contractor, make them as your friend's.
- begin the renovation works after you have a confident that the contactor already 100% understand everything about your idea's.

The contractor you really want to do business with isn’t going to work for you, or anyone else, without a contract that conforms to the conditions outlined here. He or she is going to insist on going about things in a professional manner. Having a good contract is basic to being a professional.

Finally, put it all in writing -- the estimated costs, the time until completion, the payment schedule. Even if your closest friend recommended the contractor, do not rely on promises and a handshake. Homeowners who do their homework in the beginning are the most likely to be happy in the end.

Remember, YOU are the one that control the job not the contractor !