by Duane Craig

Created on: March 31, 2010

You should try to evaluate at least three contractors for your project. You'll have a meeting with each one and after that meeting you will want a summary of what you believe each contractor told you. If they will give you a price at that time then request that all things are spelled out, in writing, to include the things that are important to you. It's only natural that the person writing up the estimate will focus on the things that are important to them, so you may have to be insistent that things important to you, beyond the price, are also included.

Likewise, if the contractor needs to go away and figure up the estimate and get back to you, make sure when you get the written estimate that it addresses those things that are important to you. If not, you will need to verify verbally that those things are included in the price and then make sure they are in the final contract before you sign.

Overall the goal is to have things transparent - both you and the contractor need to see the project the same way. There is no advantage to having one or the other in the dark when it comes to the details of the job, the price, or any other aspect.

While you are in this phase you also need to ask each contractor to supply their proof of insurance. Many times this can be faxed to you by their insurance company. You want to have a record that they have liability insurance in force and that their workers are covered by workman's compensation. You also need to know they are licensed to do business in your locale.

Some will maintain that this is too early to be getting this kind of information. However, you want to make sure you are comparing apples to apples when you make your final decision. If you don't have this info and one of the candidates doesn't have insurance in force at the time, or one of them has allowed their license to lapse, then you are not comparing apples to apples.

Other information that will help you in your selection process will be the contact information of a sub contractor or two with whom they have worked, or have hired in the past, the contact information of suppliers, and contact information of some references. References supplied by the contractor will most often have glowing things to say about them. That's why you are interested in talking to other people they have done business with. You might also ask for the address of a job that is underway, and permission to call them and stop by to take a look. 

Once you have all the estimates, or bids, it is time to do some homework on the applicants. Contact the references, sub contractors and suppliers and inquire generally about how pleased these people were with the work performed, or the working relationships they have with the contractors. How long have they known them? Are they paid on time? Do the contractors seem to be efficient? Were they satisfied with the work? Are there some things they would have liked to see done differently? Would they hire them again or work with them again? In the case of a supplier, are they still supplying materials to them? 

A successful building project is a two-way street that gets each party where they want to go, without any detours. Pay attention to the details and then enjoy the trip.

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