When a Dream Home Needs Work

Published by julia | Filed under Buyer / Seller Tips, Communities, Feng Shui Real Estate, Market Trends, Pinellas County Homes, Real Estate

That dream home that you searched for is now yours, but there are changes and upgrades that need to be made. Choosing a home contractor is the first step is refurbing that home, but how can you ensure the home contractor you find is the best one for the job?

Step 1 – Meet with the contractor. The first step in finding a home contractor is to meet with several. The contractor will need to listen to the things you want done to the home and offer up some advice on what some better changes may be. The communication should be that of a back and forth talk with friends. If you are not comfortable with one contractor, meet another and another until you find that professional friend that is willing to talk to you about what may be a bad choice.

Step 2 – Check the references and licenses. Every contractor should come prepared to the first meeting with a list of references and licenses they currently hold. If the contractor does not have these things handy, they were not prepared for taking the job. That is a huge red flag. Move on to the next contractor.

Step 3 – Ask for the bid. No matter how professional, personable and prepared the contractor may be, the bid is what drives the contract. It is okay to ask for more than one bid for a job at the same time. The best choice is to ask for several bids from several contractors. The lowest bid may not always be the best, but it certainly could be.

Step 4 – Check the team. If the contractor will sub-contract some of the work on your home refurb, make sure each of these workers and their work is guaranteed by the contractor. The final bid should list the names and contact information for the sub-contractors being used on the job. If the contractor changes the sub-contractors during the scope of the job, the new contact information should be offered to the homeowner without asking.

The home of your dreams is not necessarily perfect from day one. When there are a few changes that need to be made, the contractor is the foreman that will handle the transformation. Choosing a good contractor can take weeks or months and is not a process that should be rushed. Local contractor license websites and the Better Business Bureau are also great places to start the search.