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During the past few years the
prices of homes throughout the United States have escalated to a
point where homeowners are choosing to remodel or add on to
their existing homes rather than purchase another house. Anyone
who has been through the process of remodeling their home is
certain to have some type of war story about the experience.
It is not unusual for a remodeling contractor to incur delays, a
building inspector to require upgrades to the existing plumbing
and electrical systems, or misunderstandings to occur between
homeowner and contractor. Most homeowners who have undertaken a
remodeling or addition project will agree that the cost exceeded
the amount they were quoted by approximately fifteen to twenty
percent.
Each year thousands of people
remodel their homes. However, for some the experience can turn into
a nightmare. It is not unheard of for a homeowner to have turned
over thousands of dollars to their contractor, only to have the work
never completed and the contractor long gone. Before signing a
contract with a builder there are several things which need to be
done.
Contact and interview three to
five different contractors to obtain bids and ideas for the project.
References must be obtained and verified, the Better Business Bureau
called, and the State Licensing Board contacted. A contract should
be written which clearly spells out the obligations of the builder.
Funds for remodeling should be paid in increments based upon certain
benchmarks being met. Beware of a contractor who comes to your door
with a contract and pen in hand at the first meeting. If a
contractor seems to be urging you to sign on the dotted line during
your initial meeting with him, look for another contractor!
Choosing a A Remodeling Contractor
Always interview and obtain
bids from at least three different contractors. A reputable
contractor will always offer perspective clients a list of
references the contractor has performed work for. It is important
that several references from each list be contacted. Ask questions
such as: Did the contractor complete the job in a timely manner? Was
the homeowner satisfied with the quality of work? Were the workers
who came to the job site professional, courteous and responsible? At
the end of each work day was the home left in a safe and orderly
fashion? Did the contractor oversee the project himself or did he
have a foreman oversee the job? Were there any unanticipated costs
or delays during the project?
After receiving the bids and
having contacted references from each of the list, a homeowner
should contact both the Better Business Bureau and State Licensing
Board to inquire as to any past or existing complaints registered
against a contractor. If a builder has several complaints against
his business, it may be wise to rule him out as the person to
perform the work on your remodeling job or room addition.
Carefully review the bids from each of the builders you are thinking
of working with. A contractor who submits a very low bid may not be
using the same quality of materials. One contractor may be quoting a
price for redwood decking, while another is quoting a lower price
for pine decking material. The contractor submitting a low bid may
estimate a lighting fixture allowance of $250, while the mid- or
higher-range bid may include a fixture allowance of $600. Confirm
that all bids are for the same size project.
Once you have interviewed each of the contractors, verified
references, contacted the Better Business Bureau and licensing
board, and compared each of the bids you should be in a position to
select a contractor.
If you are looking for a professional home remodeling contractor in Santa
Cruz County then, please call us at
831-246-0555
or
complete our online form.
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