| Planning for a home remodeling project and selecting | | | | expectations, and request they be realistic about |
| a general contractor can seem daunting. This helpful | | | | time, cost, and interruption factors. It is wise not to |
| article takes the guess work out of the procedure | | | | make a selection based on price alone; other |
| by neatly organizing the process; from the planning | | | | considerations are equally important. |
| stage to selecting a contractor, to the contract itself. | | | | Before you accept a bid from a contractor ask |
| Are you considering a home remodeling project for | | | | questions: What experience and references do they |
| your property? Most remodeling projects involve | | | | have from projects similar to yours? Will they be |
| either structural or aesthetic aspects which might | | | | working on other projects simultaneously with your |
| require several specialized technical skills. If this is the | | | | own? If they will not be personally working at your |
| case, you may want to enlist the services of a | | | | site, how much time each day will they spend |
| general contractor. | | | | supervising? Will they use their own crew for some |
| A general contractor negotiates a contract for the | | | | or all the work? How available will any |
| entire remodeling project, and either completes the | | | | sub-contractors be? What licenses and insurance do |
| specialized work with his own crew, or sub-contracts | | | | they carry? And what is the time line of the project, |
| to other various house remodeling contractors. Some | | | | start to finish? These are questions any reliable, |
| of the specialized areas might include planning | | | | qualified general contractor should answer and outline |
| architecture, concrete, plumbing, electrical, roofing, | | | | in the contract. |
| dry wall, cabinetry, or painting. | | | | The Contract |
| The Planning | | | | When negotiating the contract for your home |
| To get an accurate bid from a potential general | | | | remodeling project, be thorough and accurate. Include |
| contractor, it is very important to plan carefully, with | | | | complete names and addresses of both parties, a |
| much thought and consideration. You may want to | | | | detailed job description, material specifications, start |
| involve an architect or draftsman to generate the | | | | and finish dates, any warranties on work or materials, |
| blueprints for your project. Remember that any | | | | and payment options. |
| home remodeling features not included in the plans | | | | It is fairly common for a general contractor to ask |
| will not be included in the bid. | | | | for 10-33% of the estimated cost in advance; most |
| Once you have detailed plans for your project, you | | | | contracts provide for payment as work progresses. |
| need to start the selection process for a general | | | | A reliable, reputable contractor will agree to contract |
| contractor. Canadian residents can go on-line to | | | | terms which help protect the interests of both |
| Handy for a list of qualified, licensed contractors. | | | | parties. |
| The Contractor | | | | By being thorough in your research, planning, and |
| It is a rule of thumb to get at least 3 bids from | | | | contracting process, you can look forward to |
| separate remodeling contractors. Provide each with | | | | enjoying the results of your home remodeling project |
| an identical set of plans. Be upfront about your | | | | for many years to come! |