A lot goes into home remodeling, and the average cost for a home renovation is approximately $49,979.
Whether it’s a single room or your entire home, this isn’t something you want to risk being done poorly.
It’s important to work with a contractor you can rely on.
Knowing how to choose a remodeling contractor is vital.
This will ensure you find a quality contractor who will do the work right and ensure you end up with the home you’re dreaming of.
In this guide, we’ll go over some tips that will help you find the right home remodeling contractor.
Keep reading for more.
Define Your Needs
The first thing you need to do is determine the details of your home remodeling project.
Figure out exactly what you want done as you’ll need to provide this information to any contractor.
This could be changing your bathroom layout, knocking through a wall to join two rooms, remodeling your backyard, or anything else.
The nature of the work and the scale of the project will help you find the most suitable contractor for the job.
You might just want a handyman for smaller repair work, or a much larger contractor if you need to build a home from scratch, for example.
Set a Budget
A bit of research into your project should help you get a rough idea of how much it will cost.
Determine a budget you can afford that will allow you to get everything that you need done.
You’ll need to inform your contractor of your budget when discussing the project.
They should have a good idea of custom home building costs, meaning they can advise you on how viable your project is under this budget and if there are any issues.
Get Recommendations
It can be a good idea to speak to friends, family, and colleagues about your home remodel.
If anyone you know has had similar work done, they may be able to recommend the company that they worked with (assuming things went well).
If they had issues with the project, they may also be able to help you steer clear of unreliable contractors.
Look at Reviews
Beyond the opinions of people you know, you can get some good insights by looking at reviews.
A lot of contractors will have reviews and testimonials on their websites, but you can also check Google and other review sites.
This is a great way to get a range of opinions from plenty of people.
It will give you a clearer view of the quality of service that these contractors provide.
If a company has a lot of good reviews, you should definitely consider them.
Conversely, if one has a lot of negative reviews, you should avoid them.
Be wary of fake reviews as these can lead you astray.
Check Licencing and Certifications
It’s always best to go with a home builder that’s fully certified and licensed.
This shows that their staff have proper training and they follow the correct procedures.
An unlicensed contractor might still be able to do a good job, but there’s no guarantee of this, so you’d be taking a big risk unnecessarily.
Find out if They’re Insured
Insurance is another vital element.
They should have worker’s compensation and general liability insurance to protect their business and you.
Don’t let them convince you that they don’t need Workmans Comp Insurance, that’s a lie!
Even with the best companies, accidents can happen.
People could get injured or there could be some property damage.
If they have the correct insurance, then their policy will cover the costs of such issues.
Without suitable insurance, you could be liable if one of their workers is injured on your property.
You may also have to end up paying if they damage your property in any way.
Always check their insurance coverage so you can have peace of mind throughout the project.
Ask About Their Experience
In general, a more experienced company will do a better job than one that’s brand new.
You can ask about projects they’ve done before, and may even be able to see some examples of their past work.
It’s even better if they have a good amount of experience with projects that are similar to yours.
This can give you more confidence in their abilities and you’ll have a better idea of the results you can expect.
Find out if They Use a Dedicated Team or Sub-Contractors
If they have a dedicated team, then you know it will be the same people working on the project every day.
If they use sub-contractors, you’ll likely have different people coming and going throughout the project.
In general, a dedicated team is best.
They’re likely to work harder as they’ll want to maintain their business’s reputation which isn’t a factor for sub-contractors.
Knowing that it’s the contractor’s own team can also make you feel more secure.
Discuss Their Communication Approach
Communication is vital for a home remodeling project.
It can be a good idea to have weekly meetings with the project manager so you can stay up to date with everything that’s happening.
There can often be delays in home remodeling projects, so you’ll want to be informed about things like this.
Ask them about the best way to communicate with them. This will ensure you can get in touch whenever you need to.
Find out About Warranties
With work like this, you want to be confident that nothing is going to go wrong shortly after they finish.
Enquire about the warranties their company offers on the work they’re doing.
With home remodeling, typical warranties can vary depending on the type of work.
Some installations and materials may also have warranties from the manufacturers.
Make sure you know what’s covered and how long for, and keep documents detailing these in case you need to refer back to them.
How to Choose a Remodeling Contractor
When it comes to how to choose a remodeling contractor, you must think first about your needs and budget, then consider the contractors availability.
Look at reviews and the type of work they’ve done in the past along with the warranties they offer.
Mariano & Co can cover anything from a small remodel to building an entire custom luxury home.
We’re fully insured and certified and serve clients throughout Scottsdale, Gilbert, and cities across the Phoenix Valley.
Contact us for your free quote today.
Transform your space with a Custom Home Remodeler in Mesa AZ!
Choose Mariano & Co., the leading home remodeling experts in luxury renovations. We’re committed to delivering a 5-Star remodeling experience to each client. Call (480) 287-4096 or request an estimate online today!