How to Hire a Contractor

Written by Tom Cerrato

Choosing the best contractor for your home building project is crucial for success. Here are some points to consider when choosing a professional that will best suit your needs.

1. Define the Scope of your project:

Clearly outline what you want to accomplish with your project. The more specific you are, the better contractors can understand your vision and provide accurate quotes.

2. Seek Recommendations:

Once you’ve outlined your project, it’s time to get contractor recommendations.

Start with an Internet Search
Starting with an internet search may work better if you begin with a more purposeful plan. Here are some ideas to get you started finding a quality contractor:
Ask your personal network
Ask friends, family, neighbors, or colleagues if they have any recommendations for contractors they’ve worked with. A recommendation from a neighbor can be especially helpful because their home was likely built around the same time as yours. It can be nice to work with a contractor who’s familiar with the issues that can arise within homes of your era and geography.
Contact the product manufacturer
Look for a Product Certified Contractor in your area. These contractors are typically vetted by the manufacturer. They receive training on our products and installation best practices. In many cases the contractor must meet certain requirements that help protect the homeowner, such as carrying insurance. In addition, their installations may also carry extended warranties on the product and/or labor.
Ask your local lumberyard or building supplier
Kelly-Fradet serves contractors daily. Our sales team may have experience working with certain contractors who regularly install they products you may need. As a bonus, if you stop into one of our locations, You can see a number of different products in our showrooms to tough, see and operate first hand.
Reach out to a Professional Organizations
Consider reaching out to your local industry organizations such as Home Builders Association of Connecticut, Home Builders Association of Massachusetts, North Central Chamber of Commerce, and Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce.

3. Assess a contractor’s qualifications

Once you have a few names in hand, it pays to spend a little time doing preliminary research before moving forward with meetings. Here are a few ways to begin doing this:

What can you learn from their online presence?

Checking out a contractor’s website or social media presence can help you get a sense for the quality of their work, the types of projects they typically take on, and even their standing within the industry and community. Keep in mind that contractors spend most of their days out in the field. This means that not every contractor will have invested in developing a robust online presence, particularly if their business is smaller.
There are a number of highly skilled contractors who mainly work by referral so even though they many not have a well-established online presence, they could very well still do quality work.

Look for the following:

What do customer reviews and ratings say?
A good place to start is with the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which is an organization that seeks to “establish marketplace trust.” In addition to BBB ratings and reviews, you could check out sites like Google or Angi’s (formerly Angie’s List).
License and Insurance: Verify that the contractor has the necessary licenses and insurance for your area.
You can usually check this information online through your state’s licensing board. It can be reassuring to work with a contractor who is state-licensed, because it typically means they’ve met certain licensing requirements and may need to participate in continuing education in order to retain that license.
Recent project pictures: on their website or their online social channels.
References: Contact previous clients to ask about their experience with the contractor. Were they satisfied with the quality of work, communication, and overall process?
Awards or Recognitions: Badges from the BBB or awards or recognitions their business or employees may have won.

4. Set up a meeting

Once you have a short list of contractors you might be interested in working with, your next step is to set up meetings with these pros. We can help you work through what to discuss at your first meeting with them.

Questions to ask about their business:

Are you licensed and insured?
How long have you been in business?
Have you done projects similar to mine?
What would you describe as your specialty?
Can you provide references from past clients?
Do you offer design or architectural services?
Can you provide a detailed estimate and timeline for my project?
Tell me about pricing. Do you offer financing?

Questions to ask about their building process:

What are the steps you would be taking to complete this project?
How long would you expect this project to take from start to finish?
Will the weather affect the timing of this project?
What steps do you take to protect my home during the project?
How do you handle unexpected issues or changes?
Who will be in my home and when?
What is your process for handling permits?

Questions to ask about products they use:

What brand product would you recommend for my home and why?
What’s the product warranty?
Have you built with this product before?
Do you offer a warranty on your labor?
Can you tell me about or show me some examples of recent projects?

5. Review Estimates and Contracts

After you’ve met with your short list of contractors, get detailed estimates and written contracts from each. Compare estimates from each contractor, paying close attention to the scope of work, materials, labor costs, and payment schedule. Ensure that the contract includes all the details of your project, including the scope of work, timeline, payment schedule, materials, warranties, and dispute resolution process. Consider having an attorney review the contract before you sign it to ensure you understand all the terms and conditions.

6. Finalize Your Decision

When it comes to making your final decision, listen to your gut feeling. Choose a contractor that you feel comfortable with and trust. Communication is also important when choosing a contractor. Select a contractor who communicates clearly and is responsive to your questions and concerns. Be sure your chosen contractor has experience in projects similar to yours and a proven track record of success.

Additional Tips before making your final decision:

Don’t rush the process. Take your time to research and interview potential contractors.
Get everything in writing. Make sure all agreements, expectations and changes are documented in writing.
Communicate regularly. Stay in touch with your contractor throughout the project to address any questions or concerns.
Be prepared for unexpected issues. New Construction or Remodeling projects can sometimes have unexpected challenges. A good contractor will be able to handle these issues, and communicate the options effectively.

By following these steps, you can increase your chances of finding a qualified and reliable contractor who can help you bring your home building project vision to life.

7. Start Your Project

Getting started on your home improvement project is exciting, fun, and easy! You may have a broad concept and only a vague idea of the details, or you may have a strong vision in mind for the final product. Either way, there are some common elements in any home improvement project that need to be considered. We will guide you from start to finish so that you are completely happy with the result.

The team at Kelly-Fradet is here to assist with the success of your project!