by Renee Robinson

Created on: April 21, 2008

Few things are as nerve wracking to a home owner as choosing a good and reputable contractor. Should I select the contractor my neighbor hired, my hairdresser's husband, or that man I know from church? Your project is very personal to you, and you will need someone who will take their time to patiently and accurately answer your questions to your satisfaction before you make a selection.

Your contractor may or may not be someone you have a personal connection to, but regardless, you will need to check any and all contractors and their references and histories.

The best place to begin your contractor search is at home. First, and before you begin anything else you need to sketch out on paper a general idea of what the end project will be. This does not mean you need to be capable of an architecturally detailed drawing, but more of a simple idea that clarifies your visual expectations of the end results.

Secondly, you need to contact several local and competent contractors to interview. There are several ways to accomplish this task: contact friends or neighbors that have had similar work done in the past; contact your local home improvement center and ask for contractor referrals; or check with your local Better Business Bureau. Prior to calling any contractors, do a quick online search of their credentials. One easy way to do this is to use the Better Business Bureaus online contractor page, which tells whether there have been any complaints in the last 36 months and more importantly if they have resolved them. Also, do a general web search using a search engine such as Google or Yahoo and a format such as: "ABC Contracting, Wichita, KS complaint". After weeding out those that you do not feel comfortable with, it is time to call your remaining referrals and set up appointments. Below is a handy checklist for use during your meeting:

Done Item
Met with Potential Contractor, provided sketch and walked site
Discussed specific materials to be used
Discussed Municipality Permits and who is to obtain them
Discussed HOA or other rules and what is needed for approval
Discussed timeline for project start, duration and estimated completion
Discussed personnel for the job, how many and what days/time they work
Discussed Contractors experiences in a similar project and received references
Discussed Contractors concerns for the project as requested
Discussed site clean up
Discussed warranty length and what is covered
Discussed the need for proof of insurance prior to deposit being made
Discussed deposit, draw, and final payment upon completion
Discussed when bid was expected to be submitted, and what it is to contain

After your meetings, you will be able to determine the contractors you felt most comfortable with by the answers that they have provided. Use caution in determining at this point if they are the right contractor for you, until you have received the anticipated bids and reviewed them for interview consistency. When the bids do come in, ask questions if you are confused and if it doesn't state it on the bid get it in writing. Call the references the Contractors provided and ask to see their completed projects if possible.

Once all references are checked and bids are in, it is time to compare. No two bids or projects are ever the same you may not be able to compare apples to apples, but make sure that the bid/contractor you are leaning toward addresses all of your concerns and you are satisfied that you have done your due diligence in obtaining all the necessary facts. Following these simple steps will assist you in awarding the job to the most qualified contractor for your individual project.

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