When planning a home office or kitchen remodeling in Seattle, it may be tempting to focus on the latest fixtures, paint colors or appliances. However, you must think about many other things before you even begin. Some of these points may be your timeline, your budget, and most importantly, how to find the right contractor for the job.
Why Should You Hire A Contractor?
You may have some DIY experience like replacing a toilet, painting a room, or hanging a new lamp. However, when it comes to tackling a whole remodeling job such as installing a new kitchen or bathroom, trying to tackle the whole project on your own might not give you the best results.
When several specialists such as electricians, plumbers, flooring installers and others need to be hired to do the job in a specific order, it may be best to put the project in the hands of a general contractor who can organize the work and supervise that it is done in the right way and following the right timeline.
A general contractor will sit with you and determine the plan to get your remodeling to completion. They would have a strong understanding of all aspects of home remodeling and be able to reassure you that all will end well.
What Should You Look For In A General Contractor?
Interview potential candidates before making up your mind. Here are some talking points that you might find useful:
- How long have they been in business? Are they members of a trade association?
- Will they allow you to talk to some of their past clients? See some of the work they have done?
- How will you be charged? Will it be a flat fee or a percentage of overall cost?
- What specialists will be brought in? What experience have they had with them?
- Are they insured, licensed, bonded? Is their coverage adequate?
- When will the estimate be ready? If the promised date comes and goes without an estimate, it may be a good idea to look somewhere else since this may reflect the way they will handle the rest of the project.
Where Can You Find The Right Contractor?
A good place to start your quest for the best home remodeling contractor besides doing an online search is by doing some personal research. If anyone in your family, if one of your friends or a neighbor has had some remodeling done that you like, asking them about their experience and the people they worked with to achieve the perfect look, will give you some great starting points.
Also find out from them how closely their home remodeling contractor stuck to the budget, how long their projects took to be completed, and whether the job was finished by the projected end date.
Make Sure Everything Is In Writing
No matter who you end up selecting to oversee your home remodeling job, make sure everything you discuss and agree upon is in writing. Having a signed contract is the best way to prevent problems before they even begin. Spell out precisely what the contractor will and will not do. Don’t sign vague proposals that do not address all issues. A good contract protects both you and the contractor. Do your homework and you will surely find the right contractor for your Seattle home remodeling contractor.
