How to Choose a Building Contractor
Your home is probably the largest financial outlay you will make during your life. If you are thinking of a home building or renovation project make sure you hire builders who you can trust and you know to be reliable. There are many building firms out there competing for your business, many of which claim they are the best to do your job and that you can rely on them. Alas, not all building contractors can be relied upon so picking a poor builder might cost you too much money, wasted time plus heaps of distress. The information below can help you find a good house builder.
New house in Auckland – image Bill Longshaw
Ask for references. Any reputable general contractor will be able to provide you with some references of other happy clients. Call these references to get the inside scoop on the general contractor in question. In addition to finding out how well the job was completed, you should also make an effort to learn as much as you can about the contractor’s timeliness (was the project completed as scheduled?), reliability (did the contractor and construction team show up to work as planned?), resourcefulness (were a variety of building materials and price point options provided?), and communication (was the contractor easy to talk to and open to suggestions?).
Online research. You can find a lot of very valuable information about most general contractors with just a simple online search. Sites like Yelp and Google Places allow customers to post their reviews of businesses, and there is perhaps no better indicator of a builder’s quality than word of mouth.
Licensing and insurance. Any contractor you choose to do business with should be licensed to work in your area, and insured for at least the amount of the value of your project. Don’t be afraid to ask the general contractor directly for proof of both. In some cases, this may be your only protection in the case that the worst does happen and you must seek compensation for shoddy or unfinished work.
- It is important that you interview a number of general contractors before settling on the one for the job. Prepare a list of questions to ask and then sit face to face with each contractor to discuss your project and your questions. Following a consultation, a building contractor should be able to provide you with a job estimate. You can compare estimates, as well as the information you get during interviews, to choose the right general contractor for your project.
Most people who want house renovations or a builder to construct a brand new home rely upon what the builder says about themselves. This is risky for any homeowner so to reduce those risks and increase your chances of a happy house renovation project or building a new home, contact a builder who has very public references and testimonials.
