5 Questions To Ask Before Starting Any Home Improvement Project

What experience does your contractor have with this sort of project?

How much experience does the home improvement contractor have in doing jobs like yours? Does s/he specialize in this sort of job, or will be using your house as a learning project? Normally, contractors who've completed several projects like yours will have a clearer idea of the real costs and manufacturing issues involved in your job. Bear in mind, however, that each remodeling project is somewhat different, and it's doubtful that any contractor has done a work EXACTLY like yours.

Who will do the actual work?

Will the person you are talking to do the job himself, or are they using subcontractors or employees? Each situation has its own advantages and disadvantages, but be sure that you understand what to expect on your work. Who will you ask questions after the project starts? Should you speak to the subcontractors, a jobsite supervisor, or whoever owns the enterprise? It's quite important you have one individual who will always answer your questions rather than give you the run around.

What happens if changes are needed to the first bid?

What's the builders' procedure for making changes in the center of the project? Most times you want to avoid making adjustments mid-project however there could be unforeseen obstacles that arrive and it's good to know beforehand how your contractor will deal with these obstacles. Most contractors use some kind of change order form that details the specific cost and work involved in changes once work has started.

Am I ready to be flexible when the unexpected arises?

Invariably, each job has some thing which was not intended on come up. Delays due to weather, unforeseen conditions which present themselves once walls are torn down, changes to material or design choices, and issues with workers or subcontractors can all upset the projected flow of the job. Are you ready to be flexible and work with your builder to find answers when these problems arise?

How do I feel about working with this builder?

What's your gut feeling on working with this person? Do you trust them? How do you really feel about their design ideas rather than your own? Can you communicate openly and clearly with this individual? When it's a remodeling job, how do you feel about this person being in your home for many weeks.