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Hiring a good contractor is the key to a successful (and minimally stressful) building project. Whether it is your home, office or an even larger project, the contractor you select will determine the outcome of your original plan. Although there are many highly skilled contractors, there are just as many who do not live up to the claims they make about themselves. In order to avoid hiring an under qualified contractor, you need to use the same set of criteria to evaluate every contractor that you may eventually hire. To help you with this process, here are five traits that you need to look for in any potential contractor candidate:

1) References: Reference are the easiest way to narrow down your list of contractors. If a contractor cannot produce at least three references, you should eliminate them as a choice for your project. For the contractors that do give you references, you should take the time to contact these individuals. Previous references can give you an honest opinion about the contractor’s level of skill, reliability and any other issues that you may have overlooked.

2) Networking: If a contractor has a strong network of reliable subcontractors, your project will progress much faster. This is because a well connected contractor will not have to waste time searching and waiting for unknown subcontractors . The easiest way to find out whether or not a contractor has a solid network is to talk with them about the subcontractors that they normally use to complete different tasks. You can even request that the contractor give you a list of their usual subcontractors.

3) Reliability: Although this was mentioned in the first tip, reliability is so important that it needs to be reemphasized. If you hire a contractor that is not reliable, the task of building your dream home or office is going to turn into a nightmare. To avoid a long, frustrating building project, make sure that you talk to the contractor’s references about how reliable the contractor was during previous projects. If you have any doubts about the reliability of a potential contractor, you should move on and find a more suitable candidate.

4) Competitive Pricing: Your contractor’s rates can be an excellent gauge of their skill. If a quote is extremely low, the quality of the contractor is most likely poor. However, an extremely high price does not guarantee above average quality. Many of the best contractors charge prices that fall in the middle of the scale. The best way to find the reasonable price range for your project is to obtain quotes from a wide variety of contractors. Once you have these quotes, you can find your optimal price range by comparing the quotes to the contractors’ reputation.

5) Personality: This may not be the most important trait of the contractor you hire, but you should at least take it into consideration. If you are thinking about hiring a contractor that has a personality which clashes with yours, you should try to find a contractor that is more compatible with you. You will be communicating with your contractor quite a bit, and if you cannot stand them, your building project is going to be an unpleasant experience.

Joshua Dundrin

http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/the-top-five-traits-of-an-excellent-contractor-97741.html

Technorati Tags: home improvement contractor

Whether you are remodeling your kitchen, getting new windows or building an addition, choosing a contractor is one of the most important steps the process. Hiring a competent, reliable and professional contractor is the first step toward a successful home improvement or home repair project. It takes more effort than a simple phone call. Most homeowners would agree that contractors and home improvement companies vary significantly by cost, availability, expertise and professionalism. Taking the time now to do research could save you unnecessary headaches and, most importantly, hundreds and even thousands of dollars.

Adhere to the recommendation to obtain at least three estimates or quotes. You will be surprised to find that two contractors may submit two widely different estimates on the same project. When comparing the estimates, though, be sure they are providing a quote on the same scope of the project, timeline and quality of work. Otherwise, it is a rather useless comparison analogous to comparing applies to oranges.

Also, request to see the contractor’s license and certificate of insurance. Most states require a contractor to carry certain types of insurance, such as worker’s compensation, property damage and personal liability. However, many either never purchased it or allowed the policies to lapse. Without proper coverage, you could be liable for any employee injuries or proper damage caused during the project.

Do not be afraid to contact and investigate local references from previous customers. Ask questions regarding their satisfaction with the contractor’s work, if they finished on time and the communication between the contractor and the homeowner. Keep in mind that a contractor may provide a reference with the mindset that he performed great on the job, but the customer may feel differently. Considering you are the potential customer, you will want to at least hear the customer’s perspective.

Because your home may be one of your most valuable assets and largest investments, it is important to hire only the best. You need to protect your investment by hiring a quality contractor and/or professional to work on it.

Home improvement, repair and maintenance professionals often advertise in the telephone book, online directories, on the radio or TV or through online referral services. Do not evaluate the contractor’s quality based on the advertisement. The best way to obtain referrals is from friends, family or co-workers who have worked with contractors on their home improvement projects. Even with these referrals, though, be sure to get multiple estimates and be sure the estimates are in writing. Do not automatically choose the lowest quote, also. Ask the contractor to explain price variations. The contractor may also be willing to revise the quote after some discussion.

Most importantly, you need to feel comfortable with the contractor. Communication is at the core of a successful home project and, if you do not feel comfortable communicating with the contractor, problems will likely arise.

Leroy K. Calstard

http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/choosing-a-contractor-for-your-remodeling-project-125455.html

Technorati Tags: home improvement contractor