How to Safely Hire Contractors and Workers for Your Home

We share this knowledge because of all the times we have watched homeowners get taken – jobs that cost thousands more than they should, jobs we have had to tear out and repair due to bad work, costing the homeowner more money.

The following is our list of tips for a successful construction/renovation project:

1. Require no less than 5 references - everyone has a mother, father, brother and sister and sometimes they have different last names. Check the references and ask to see their work.

2. Require they carry insurance – Liability and Worker's Comp. The policy value should be greater than the value of your home. A Certificate of Insurance comes directly from the contractor’s insurance agent via email and/or US postal service. Ask to be named on the policy. Your insurance agent can give you guidance on this subject.

3. Ask for the contractor’s and subcontractor’s license - all contractors and subcontractors involved in the project- licensed renovation contractor, licensed home builder, licensed electrician, licensed plumber, licensed heating and air, etc. It is your responsibility, as the homeowner, to check with the State Contractor's Licensing Board to verify that the license is valid and current. The website if very user friendly and has numerous search criteria to choose from– contractor name, license number, city/town, type of contractor, etc. Do not allow unlicensed persons to do electrical, plumbing or heating and air. We have opened walls and found all kinds of illegal electrical and plumbing work, sometimes very dangerous.

4. Have a written contract for anything over $1,000.00. The contract needs to outline every aspect of the project. Do not accept an open-ended contact. A set price on labor and contractor supplied materials needs to be established in writing. “Time and Materials” is not an acceptable summary of services to be rendered and we have seen it lead to exorbitant costs to the homeowner. Homeowners and/or contractor should provide a materials list and cost outline agreed to by both parties prior to the start of construction/renovations. All changes, whether or not they affect the cost of the project, need to be in writing and signed off on by both parties. We have seen the lack of written and approved project scope and changes to scope lead to the ballooning of the project cost and the homeowner running out of money before the project is complete.

5. The homeowner should ask the contractor for a firm start date and how long the project will take. An approximate start date is acceptable depending on the nature of the project, the chosen contractor's workload, or the flexibility of the homeowner's expectations. The contractor should be able to give a rough schedule of the order of project work and when different subcontractors will be on site. A professional contractor will have no problem with providing a schedule and giving updates as the project progresses. We have seen small projects go on for months when at least a rough schedule is not established.

6. Be leery of contractors who can start tomorrow. Good contractors stay busy and will give you an honest assessment of when the project can be started and completed.

We wish you the best with your repairs and renovations, and years of enjoyment of your home. A successful project starts with a professional, experienced contractor.

How to Hire Contractors and Workers for Your Home

We share this knowledge because of all the times we have watched homeowners get taken – jobs that cost thousands more than they should, jobs we have had to tear out and repair due to bad work, costing the homeowner more money.

The following is our list of tips for a successful construction/renovation project:

1. Require no less than 5 references - everyone has a mother, father, brother and sister and sometimes they have different last names. Check the references and ask to see their work.

2. Require they carry insurance – Liability and Workman's Comp. The policy value should be greater than the value of your home. A Certificate of Insurance comes directly from the contractor’s insurance agent via email and/or US postal service. Ask to be named on the policy. Your insurance agent can give you guidance on this subject.

3. Ask for the contractor’s and subcontractor’s license - all contractors and subcontractors involved in the project- licensed renovation contractor, licensed home builder, licensed electrician, licensed plumber, licensed heating and air, etc. It is your responsibility, as the homeowner, to check with the State Contractor's Licensing Board to verify that the license is valid and current. The website if very user friendly and has numerous search criteria to choose from– contractor name, license number, city/town, type of contractor, etc. Do not allow unlicensed persons to do electrical, plumbing or heating and air. We have opened walls and found all kinds of illegal electrical and plumbing work, sometimes very dangerous.

4. Have a written contract for anything over $1,000.00. The contract needs to outline every aspect of the project. Do not accept an open-ended contact. A set price on labor and contractor supplied materials needs to be established in writing. “Time and Materials” is not an acceptable summary of services to be rendered and we have seen it lead to exorbitant costs to the homeowner. Homeowners and/or contractor should provide a materials list and cost outline agreed to by both parties prior to the start of construction/renovations. All changes, whether or not they affect the cost of the project, need to be in writing and signed off on by both parties. We have seen the lack of written and approved project scope and changes to scope lead to the ballooning of the project cost and the homeowner running out of money before the project is complete.

5. The homeowner should ask the contractor for a firm start date and how long the project will take. An approximate start date is acceptable depending on the nature of the project, the chosen contractor's workload, or the flexibility of the homeowner's expectations. The contractor should be able to give a rough schedule of the order of project work and when different subcontractors will be on site. A professional contractor will have no problem with providing a schedule and giving updates as the project progresses. We have seen small projects go on for months when at least a rough schedule is not established.

6. Be leery of contractors who can start tomorrow. Good contractors stay busy and will give you an honest assessment of when the project can be started and completed.

We wish you the best with your repairs and renovations, and years of enjoyment of your home. A successful project starts with a professional, experienced contractor.