When it comes to hiring professionals to work on your home, it’s important to do your research. It’s a stressful process to find a contractor, especially if you plan to do major upgrades to your home. You should feel comfortable and confident that the professional working on your home project is experienced and communicative. If you’re wondering how to choose the right service contractor or service pro for your renovation, follow these 5 steps.
 
1. Ask For Referrals
Know someone who just underwent a home renovation? Ask them if they liked who they worked with. Ask your family, friends and neighbours for names of companies they’ve worked with in the past and create a list for yourself. Having a number of options to choose from can help you make the right decisions for your needs.
 
2. Do Your Research
While having referrals is great, you’ll want to dig a little deeper and do your own research as well. Look at online reviews of the companies in your area, and if it’s possible, call previous clients and ask them how their experience was. Make sure to look at the companies’ portfolios for an idea of what you can expect for your project, and always check that the companies are licensed.
 
3. Talk to and Meet With Them
Before making any final decisions, it’s time to call up these companies, as well as meet their team face-to-face. On an initial phone call, you can ask them if they specialize in the project you’re looking to have done, as well as questions such as: How long have you been in business? Does your company carry insurance? And what work will your employees do and what work will be subcontracted?
 
The next step is meeting them face-to-face. This is crucial to get a feel for their communication style, and get insight to their character and how they present themselves and their company. You want to work with professionals that not only do good work, but ones that you can trust and communicate with.
 
4. Get Estimates Before the Project Starts
Before you commit to working with a company, be sure to get estimates for your project from all the companies under consideration. Get them to break down the costs, including labour, materials and expenses, and take notice if a quote seems too low or too high. Be wary of contractors that give you a quote before seeing a job or pressure you to sign a contract on the first visit.
 
5. Figure Out The Pre-Work Details
Before getting to work, make sure you go over the costs (and when deposits for the projects are due), the timeline for the work, expectations for yourself as the homeowner, and ensure that everything is written down in the contract. Make sure the contract includes a detailed description of the project, all building permits that will be obtained by the contractor, a statement of warranties, a statement of contractor’s liability and property damage insurance, and the price and terms of payment.
 
At the end of the day, you should choose the contractor or service pro that has the best reputation and who you feel comfortable and able to communicate with. These three things will ensure your renovation runs smoothly and get the results you’re hoping for!