When it comes to remodeling your home, you can’t be too careful who you hand the keys to. Your home is likely your greatest investment and it’s the place you and your family spend the most time and make memories. Your home is important–and making the choice to remodel it is likely not one you came to lightly.
The relationship between you as the homeowner and your remodeler must be based on trust. A trustworthy remodeler can make the difference between a great renovation experience and one that feels like a nightmare. Hiring a contractor isn’t easy, but this blog post can help you feel confident in your decision.
There are several things you want to look for right off the bat when you’re vetting a home remodeler.
First, you want to make sure they are licensed and insured. A contractor with a license
Second, you should look at reviews. Read the reviews they feature on their website, but also look them up on sites like the Better Business Bureau, Yelp, and Angi. You can also just type their name into a search engine and see what comes up.
Next, check out their past project galleries on their website. Look to see if the types of projects they’re doing are similar to what you want done in your home, and if the work looks good. Professional photos are a good sign–it means your potential contractor is serious about his work. You want a remodeler who is professional and competent, and you can often get an idea by looking at their projects.
Finally, schedule a time to meet with your potential remodeler. Note how professionally they deal with you on the phone or via email, and how quickly they get back to you. Get ready to talk through some details of your project and ask questions that will help you decide if this is the remodeler for you.
It’s good to visit your potential contractor’s office and take note of how it runs. Is the business handled professionally? Is there an office staff or support staff for the benefit of those in the field, to keep things running smoothly? What business systems do they have in place?
You’ll want to sit down with your remodeler and ask some questions. While some of what you need to know will be specific to your project, there are some general questions you should get answered:
Contacting references will give you a great idea of what it’s like to work with a particular remodeler or company. You should ask questions like, “Was there good communication throughout the process? Was the work that was done high-quality, with attention to detail? Was the project completed in a timely manner and on budget? Would you work with this builder again?” The answers to these questions and the enthusiasm (or lack of it!) you hear from the references will tell you a lot about a company.
For more questions to ask, read this post.
As your potential remodeler answers your questions, observe how knowledgeable they seem about your specific type of project. Also, notice whether or not they are rushed when they talk with you.
When you hire a remodeler, you’re giving him and his team access to your home. You’ll be working with them for a while. If you feel uncomfortable with him, he or his team isn’t easy to talk to, or they don’t treat you with consideration and respect, they’re not the team for you. Don’t ignore your intuition. Choose a remodeler you feel good about.
If you’re in Lancaster County, we’d love to be your remodeler. Our award-winning team is trustworthy, knowledgeable, and skilled. Our vision is to enrich your life at home by giving you the home of your dreams, one that supports you and your family. Are we the right fit for you? We’d love to discuss your needs and desires for your home and see how we can help. Contact us today to get started