Deciding on Your Remodeling Partner

You’ve narrowed down the prospects, interviewed them, looked at their work and talked to references. It’s time to make a decision. Who will be your choice? Chose the one you feel most comfortable with, the one whose personality best suits you, whose designs are inspired, beautiful and well tailored, whose way of doing business most impresses you, the one who asked all the right questions and best addresses your concerns. When choosing your remodeling partner, keep in mind that you are beginning a collaborative process that you will be personally involved in, especially if you are using a design-build firm. You want to be working with someone you like and who is a good communicator. Do not let yourself be swayed by the one who gave you the lowest dollar guestimate of what a project like yours may cost unless they also meet the above criteria.

What if your preferred contractor is busy and you will have to wait longer than you had hoped for your project to start. My advice is wait. Good contractors tend to be busy. What’s more important than how soon a project will start is the timeline to completion once it’s started. There are many times I have seen impatient clients go with another contractor who could begin sooner, and then had the project take longer to complete than it would have if they had waited for us. The difference is in the contractor staying on the project and managing it well during the process. So be patient.

Some things to consider when choosing your remodeler :

Years in Business– Most remodeling companies started (96% +-) will be out of business in ten years or less. The majority fail within 5 years.
Expertise– Are they experienced in the type of project and in the style you desire? If you are considering a design-build firm, do their projects demonstrate fine design as well as building expertise?
Range of Services- Do you want a full service contractor? Including design services? Are
you expected to provide some materials or services yourself?
Level of Service-
An important consideration is the level of service your contractor can be expected to provide. Most unpleasant remodeling experiences are a result of poor service: uninspired or unsuited design, inaccurate or incomplete estimating, sloppy workmanship, unreturned calls, no shows, disorganized worksites, discourteous workers, a project that drags on and on…,these are just a few examples of poor service. Be certain your contractor is noted for providing excellent service, before during and after construction
Professionalism
What professional organizations are they actively involved in? Are they involved in their communities? Active membership in professional organizations ( National Association of the Remodeling Industry, Builders Assoc., the Remodelers Council etc.) demonstrate their commitment to professionalism. All of these organizations require members to adhere to a strict code of ethics. Do they support any community charities or donate time to improve the industry?
What do Others Say About Them?
Always ask for and then talk to references. Also check company ratings with the Better Business Bureau . Do they have any unsolicited third party revues or endorsements? Newspaper or magazine articles about their company or projects? Also ask contractors under consideration if they can tell you their rate of repeat clients. That speaks volumes about their service.