What Should You Be Asking Your Contractor When Building Your Home?

Photo by Derek Torsani on Unsplash

Building a new house is a fun project. But before you can start building, you need to find a reliable building contractor and the other contractors you’ll need to build the home of your dreams. There are so many choices that it can be hard to know where to start. When looking for a contractor, here are five things to look for:

Choose One With A Good Reputation 

Asking for recommendations is one of the best ways to find a good contractor. Talk to family, friends, and neighbors who have recently had work done on their homes in the areas of construction, electrical, plumbing, or landscaping. Do some online research once you have a few names. Read reviews and look at the websites and social media accounts of the contractors. Your Home Builder should have a strong online presence where most of the reviews are positive.

Good Experience 

When it comes to building a house, experience is important. You want to make sure you hire a contractor who has done a lot of work like yours before. Ask for examples of similar projects that they’ve done well in the past. When looking for a contractor like an electrical engineer, you want to find someone who says, “We do everything from A to Z.” You want to hire someone who has worked with home wiring, lighting, electrical fixtures, and more.

Easy To Understand 

Communication is the most important part of any relationship, including the one you have with your contractor. During your first meeting with the contractor, pay attention to how well he or she hears your ideas and worries. Do they talk back? Do they seem interested in what’s being said? Can they explain their process to you in a way that you can easily understand? If not, keep looking. You want a contractor who responds quickly and takes the time to make sure that you and he or she are on the same page from the beginning to the end.

Have A Written Agreement 

Once you’ve found someone you like, it’s time to make a deal with them. This document should list all the details of your project, such as a timeline, budget, payment schedule, and the work that needs to be done. Before you sign anything, make sure to carefully read the contract! Before moving forward, talk to the company about anything that isn’t clear or seems unfair. Once you sign the contract, you agree to all of their terms and conditions, which means you can’t change them later.

Insurance And Licenses 

Last but not least, make sure that the contractor you’re thinking about has all the insurance and licenses you need for your area. Most states require contractors who work on residential properties to have a license. And every contractor should have liability insurance in case something goes wrong or something gets broken while building. Ask to see proof of both before you agree to work with them. If you don’t, if something goes wrong during your project, you could be held responsible.

Choosing a contractor is a big decision that shouldn’t be made on the spur of the moment. And if you use these tips, you’ll be able to narrow down your choices and find a trustworthy professional who can help you make your vision come true.