5 Questions to Ask Any Contractor Before You Hire

When you are looking to remodel your home you will likely have many questions.  Tragically many people ask the WRONG questions.  They ask questions about price, years of experience, and they miss the most important questions.  Before you hire any contractor I invite you to consider asking the following.  These questions could save you thousands of dollars and countless hours of heartache.

1. What areas do you specialize in? – Dig deep on this question.  Many contractors will simply say “everything”.  Would you get heart surgery from a doctor who normally works on people’s feet?  Of course not!  Ask what jobs they have done specifically in the area you are considering.  For example when you looking for a kitchen remodel, ask them how many kitchen remodels they have performed in the last year.  Ask them how they decide on what they specialized in.  Do they have a passion for a particular area of construction?  Find the passion and you have found your contractor.
2. Can I get a list of references? – Generally this question is a waste of your time.  After all, who are they are going to give you?  They are going to give you clients that love them, not clients that had poor experiences.  Instead of asking for references consider evaluating pictures of their work.  Are they updating Facebook with jobs they are working on?  Do they show you projects in progress or just finished work?  If they only have a few “finished” projects be concerned.
3. What was the last major problem you had on a job and how did you resolve it? – This will reveal the character of the contractor.  Do they get defensive?  Do they shout back that they can put a contractors lien on a house?  Or, do they mention how they encountered a problem with materials and resolved?  Pay careful attention to what problem they share and see if it’s how you would handle it.
4. How many jobs do you typically run at one time? – This is one that I encourage each homeowner to decide for themselves what is best.  A contractor that has 7+ jobs going might be successful, but might not have the time for you.  A contractor that only has 1 job going will likely charge you too much because its their sole job.  Listen carefully and find the balance that’s right for the needs of your job.  A contractor that runs 2-5 jobs at at time will likely be able to spend time at your job site to ensure it is done right.
5. How long have your subcontractors been working for you? – Subcontractors are what enable contractors to get key tasks done.  A General Contractor who has “Subs” who have only been with him for less than 1 year likely does not take the time to do proper interview techniques and might not have the leadership to keep people motivated to finish your job on time and on budget.

When you ask at least these 5 questions you will be able to find the contractor that meets your needs and will exceed your expectations.  When you want to discover 5 more questions to ask ANY contractor simply call me direct at 310-989-3499.

Tagged as: construciton questions, contractor problems