Embarking on a home remodeling project can be both exciting and daunting. Whether you’re planning a simple refresh or a major overhaul, hiring the right contractor is crucial to ensuring a successful outcome. Here’s a guide to help homeowners navigate this process effectively.
Before reaching out to contractors, define the scope of your project. Understand what changes you want to make, the materials you prefer, and your budget. A well-thought-out plan will help you communicate your needs clearly and avoid misunderstandings during the bidding process.
Referrals — from neighbors, friends, or others —are a common source when looking for a remodeling contractor. Real estate professionals also recommend contractors and may offer extra assurance from their well-vetted network.
Before you hire a contractor, schedule three to five in-person interviews, gather bids, and thoroughly check the background of any you’re considering. Google the contractor’s name and their business. See what turns up and if they have any complaints or lawsuits filed against them.
Check online reviews on Yelp, Angi, NextDoor, and elsewhere, but don’t base your decision only on those. I have been a victim on costly scam myself from a “friend” and will recommend to proceed with caution. Review sites are not all made equally, and not all reviewers are actually customers. Some review sites let anyone post reviews about the company.
Instead, I will recommend focusing on Better Business Bureau reviews and ratings. Companies pay to be a part of the BBB, and when the customer complains about services rendered, the BBB has to do an actual investigation of the situation. If the company has a bad BBB rating, this means they likely have failed to satisfy real customers who had real experiences.
You can also find out whether a contractor you’re considering has been certified by an industry organizations. For example, certification by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry recognizes highly experienced remodeling professionals who are capable of planning and managing complex remodeling projects. NARI offers a consumer search tool at its site to find remodelers in your area who’ve also agreed to abide by NARI’s code of ethics for professionalism.
Being licensed, bonded, and insured can lend credibility to contractors and offer protection to homeowners, but these credentials come with some limitations, according to Rudin.
When you’re interviewing, background checking, or starting a relationship with a remodeling contractor, be leery of these eight red flags:
Looking back on my unfortunate experience I likely could have avoided some of my remodeling nightmare by spotting the red flags. Those include the lack of communication, vague contracts, and the requirement to put down too much money upfront. So, if you start to notice something isn’t right, communicate that right away to the contractor. Always follow up with a written letter that summarizes what you said and uses language like, ‘I appreciate your help,’ or ‘I appreciate your attention to this,’ and ‘I look forward to getting this resolved.’ Document and take photos.
If you come to the point to file a complaint with the Nevada State Contractors Board here is were to go to start the process
Have you ever stopped to think about how much wealth you’ve built up just from…
Let’s face it – life can throw some curveballs. Whether it’s a job loss, unexpected…
Understanding Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI)Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) is an additional cost that applies to…
As a homeowner in Las Vegas, I often get asked what it's like to live…
If you’ve purchased a home you may be familiar with the benefits of title insurance.…
Taking steps to protect your outdoor pipes from freezing during the winter is essential. Frozen…