Don't
count on newspaper advertisements or the phone book. The best
contractors don't have to advertise. They get work through
satisfied customers' referrals. Consult
friends and neighbors who have had work done. Another source is the
National Association
of Home Builders (www.nahb.org).
After a little pointing and clicking, you can bring up contact
information for local builders' associations in your region.
These in turn, usually have member
directories to help you find a contractor. Kitchen-and-bath shops or
other suppliers may
try to steer you to contractors they use
regularly, but don't feel you must use one of them.
Call
the Better Business Bureau or a local consumer-affairs agency for
complaint histories of the contractors you're considering.
One or two gripes shouldn't necessarily
induce you to look elsewhere. But be wary of a contractor with more
problems than
that. You'll also want to check with the
appropriate agency to see if the contractor is properly licensed and
insured. Some
states or counties as well as many large
cities or townships license contractors; other jurisdictions require
them to be registered.
As a rule, licensing entails passing a test
to measure competency, while registering involves only payment of a fee.
If a
problem arises, a government agency may be
able to pursue a licensed or registered contractor on your behalf.
Licensing won't guarantee success, but it indicates a degree of professionalism and suggests that the contractor is committed to his or her job. The same holds true for membership in or certification by an industry group such as the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), the National Kitchen & Bath Association, or the NAHB Remodeling Council—usually a sign of someone who is in business for the long run and not the quick buck. NARI will even try to resolve disputes between member contractors and homeowners, if requested.
When checking references, ask whether the contractor is insured and, if applicable, licensed to do the work. If, for example, someone gets hurt or your neighbor's property is damaged by an unlicensed or uninsured contractor, you could wind up paying. It's wise to know what your homeowners' insurance covers before work starts.
No matter how you find potential contractors, be sure to ask for a list of previous customers; then call them or, better yet, visit their homes to look at the work. Ask some penetrating questions such as these:
Source: Consumer Reports
Licensing won't guarantee success, but it indicates a degree of professionalism and suggests that the contractor is committed to his or her job. The same holds true for membership in or certification by an industry group such as the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI), the National Kitchen & Bath Association, or the NAHB Remodeling Council—usually a sign of someone who is in business for the long run and not the quick buck. NARI will even try to resolve disputes between member contractors and homeowners, if requested.
When checking references, ask whether the contractor is insured and, if applicable, licensed to do the work. If, for example, someone gets hurt or your neighbor's property is damaged by an unlicensed or uninsured contractor, you could wind up paying. It's wise to know what your homeowners' insurance covers before work starts.
No matter how you find potential contractors, be sure to ask for a list of previous customers; then call them or, better yet, visit their homes to look at the work. Ask some penetrating questions such as these:
- Would you hire this contractor again?
- Were you satisfied with the quality of the work?
- How did the contractor handle cleanup each day?
- Was the contractor easy to talk to?
- How did the contractor handle differences and work changes?
- Was the job completed on time and at the bid? If not, why not?
Source: Consumer Reports
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