When beginning a new home project, hiring an experienced contractor is one of the most important components to ensure you're happy with the results. Our real estate agents suggest asking the following questions when hiring a contractor to make sure potential candidates are the right fit for the job. 

1. Do You Have a Contracting License?
   Unlicensed contractors can be a huge headache if something goes wrong with your project. If they're hurt on the job and aren't properly licensed, you may be liable for their medical bills and lost wages. The financial savings from hiring an unlicensed contractor simply aren't worth it if something goes wrong. An unlicensed contractor will also be unable to obtain the proper building permits for an extensive renovation, meaning the project won't be up to code. Check that potential contractors are licensed and meet your state's requirements for working as a contractor. 

2. Can You Provide Your Certificate of Insurance?
   A reputable contractor will have no issues providing a certificate of insurance that gives information about their insurance coverage. The contractor should have workers' compensation and liability insurance that's applicable to the services they provide. 

3. What Type of Payment Schedule Do You Require?
   When working with a contractor, it's imperative to never pay the entire cost of the project upfront. Stay away from any contractor who requires you to pay the total bill before beginning the work. Instead, make sure that the contractor breaks your payment down into scheduled payments that are tied to the completion of the project. You might make payments as certain milestones are completed, or your payments may be based on the estimated length of the project. 

4. How Do You Handle Additional Expenses for a Project?
   Unfortunately, things don't always go as planned with home projects. There might be changes in the cost of materials, or once a project gets started, your contractor may uncover additional tasks that have to be completed to properly finish the project. Your contractor should inform you of any changes to the cost of the project and avoid spending more than your budgeted amount unless you've specifically agreed to it. 

5. How Much Experience Do You Have?
   When inquiring about your contractor's experience, you need to look at their experience running a contracting business and their experience completing or overseeing the work for your project. The ideal contractor should have a combination of both. Understanding how to effectively manage and complete a project is different than having the technical expertise to complete a specific type of home repair or task. 

6. Do You Obtain the Permits and Inspections Required to Complete the Project?
   A reputable contractor will acquire the permits and inspections for a job themselves. Without the right permits and inspections, your project may not be completed according to your local building code. This will negatively affect your home's value and create issues if you ever decide to sell your home. You also need the security of knowing that your contractor understands when a job requires inspections or permits and how to properly acquire them. They need to understand the timeline and process associated with getting a permit or setting up an inspection to avoid delaying your project.

7. Who Will Be Completing the Work for the Project?
   Your contractor should be able to tell you if they'll be completing the work themselves, if they're planning to use subcontractors, or if they have workers to handle the job. If they'll be using subcontractors, ask about their process for vetting the subcontractors to ensure they're qualified to complete the work. They should also tell you if the same people will be working on the project each day or if there will be a revolving team of people. In cases where the contractor won't be completing the work, see how frequently they'll check in regarding the status of the project. 

8. How Long Will the Project Take To Complete?
   In addition to understanding how long the project will take once they get started, you need to know how long it will take the contractor to begin the job. It's not uncommon for a contractor to have a couple of jobs scheduled that may delay the start date for your project. You should also understand that delays in acquiring materials may potentially delay the work for your home. 

9. What's the Daily Cleanup Process Like?
   For projects that will take longer than a day, it's important to understand what tasks will be done at the end of a workday. Your contractor should ensure that his crew removes trash, cleans up nails, and wipes down surfaces at the end of each day. They should also tell you how they will store any tools that they leave in your home. 

If the process of finding and hiring an experienced contractor feels daunting, knowing what questions to ask can help. Ready to find a home that better suits your needs? Contact us to get started.