By Dud Eddy
It’s no secret how home renovations are massive financial investments, which is why it’s incredibly important to know a lot about your general contractor prior to hiring them.
One of the best ways to get to know your contractor is through an interview or consultation appointment, because this gives you an opportunity to express your concerns and get important questions answered.
We’ve teamed up with the general contracting dayton specialists at Dream Big Contracting to provide you with a comprehensive list of important questions that you should keep in mind when you initially meet a general contractor, so check out the below sections to see what questions should dictate your contractor hiring decision!
What’s Your Background And General Contracting Experience?
This type of question should always be at the top of your list during a contractor interview, because it’s a good way to see if an individual is a good fit for your specific project.
Be sure to find out how long they’ve been in business as a general contractor, and how many similar projects to yours they’ve completed. Although time in business isn’t always a green flag, it does bode well in that they’ve likely provided good results for their past clients.
And if they’ve worked on similar projects to yours in the past, ask them for pictures of those projects so that you can see what to expect from them.
Can You Provide Client Referrals?
Every good general contractor in Dayton will be more than happy to provide you referral information, because they know that their work will speak for itself. It can be very useful to speak with a contractor’s past clients who invested in similar projects to yours, because it’s possible that they could provide you with valuable insights.
It’s also important to check out a general contractor’s online reviews on sites like HomeAdvisor, Angie’s List, social media, and other online directories.
Will The General Contracting Team Handle Permits?
Not all home renovation projects require permits, but there are many scenarios in which permits are a necessity for things like structural changes at a residential property.
Professional contractors will know when permits are needed, and they’ll also be knowledgeable about properly obtaining them. It’s important for homeowners to know that getting permits is time-consuming and sometimes pricey, so it’s very convenient when a general contractor will handle this on your behalf.
Common permits to keep in mind for your project include:
- Electricity & plumbing
- Building projects
- Special projects like decks and fireplaces
What’s The General Contractor’s Schedule?
It’s also a good idea to ask a general contractor about their upcoming schedule, because it’s possible that you’ll have to wait a long time just to get them in your home when they’re very busy.
It’s always a red flag when a contractor doesn’t provide a distinct schedule during your consultation, because this lack or organization can quickly lead to mismanaged workflows that drag out your project and increase your costs.
You should also know when the crew will arrive and end at your property each day, and they should also provide milestone schedules that prove how they’re staying on track with their original timeline.
Will The General Contractor Require Subcontractors?
It’s likely that your general contractor will have several simultaneous projects going on, which means that they’ll manage their work by hiring out subcontractors for all sorts of smaller jobs. This means that it can be difficult to keep track of who’s working at your property, especially when subcontractors change over and over again.
It’s usually best to have the same subcontractors throughout the course of a renovation project, because this will help ensure good continuity and consistency. You’ll likely find out that your general contractor will hire subcontractors for the following fields:
- Masonry, painting, plastering
- HVAC, plumbing and electrical work
- Concrete & flooring
- Carpentry
- Sheet metal, roofing & siding
How Does The Payment Work?
Another important factor to keep in mind prior to hiring a general contractor is how they expect to be paid for their services. The vast majority of general contracting teams will ask for upfront payments before a project begins, but you should get a good idea of what their payment schedule looks like.
It’s common for payments to be made after specific milestones are completed, with the last payment coming when the project is finalized.
Will You Clean Up At The End Of The Renovation?
It’s important to be specific about this type of question, because everyone has different definitions for the word clean.
The odds are that your home will be full of sawdust and dirt at the end of your renovation project, and it’s up to you if you want your home cleaned on a daily basis or just at the very end.
Keep in mind that the time your crew cleans has to be paid for, and it could potentially push back your project’s timeline when they’re cleaning on a daily basis.
Are There Warranties For The Project’s Materials & Services?
This is the type of question that you’ll need to consider for quite a while after your renovation is over, but your general contractor should know the warranty details for the materials and services that they use.
Most construction work is very technical, and it usually comes with a one-year warranty that coincides with many industry standards. This means that if anything goes wrong within one year of your project’s completion, your contractor will handle any repairs or extra work that might be necessary.
How Will The General Contracting Team Protect Your Property?
Renovations are always messy, and this is especially the case when demolition is necessary. This is why it’s a good idea to know how a general contractor will keep your valuable appliances and furniture safe from harm.
It’s typically on your contractor to avoid issues like stained carpets, scratched floors and wall damages. It’s also possible that your general contracting team might need to lock up your property upon leaving when you’re not around.
It’s important to know the following when it comes to how a general contractor will protect your property:
- Covering furniture
- Locking doors when leaving your property
- Relocating items to avoid damages
Have More General Contractor Questions? Contact Dream Big Contracting In Dayton OH To Learn More From Their Experts!
It’s a great start when you know what to ask a general contractor during a consultation appointment, because this will ultimately point you in the right direction toward a good hiring decision and successful project.
It’s normal to feel stressed out when you’re planning your next renovation project, so reach out to the Dream Big Contracting team via the link at the top of this page when you have more questions that need to be answered!
