You have decided you would like to move forward with your home or investment property renovation idea. But where do you start? Selecting the right construction company can be an overwhelming task. This checklist of action items can help you find the right contractor for your project.

When looking for a general contractor it is important to ensure that the one you hire is licensed, bonded, and insured. You can start by checking your state licensing board to ensure that their license is active. Here in California, you can check the CSLB.

Be sure to ask Contractors that you are interviewing if they have experience with projects like yours. An experienced contractor should be able to give you an estimate based on plans sight unseen.  If you have already sought out an architect on your own and already have plans an experienced contractor should be able to provide you with a quote without having to walk the property in person. However, if you are still in the conceptual stages of your project you will need to allow the contractor to visit the property to get an idea of what you have in mind.

Ask friends and family if they recommend any contractors that they were happy working with. DCF construction has been in business since 2009 and as of today 100%, of our business comes from referrals from happy customers who keep recommending us. If you are considering hiring a contractor for your next project, ask us for a list of references, we will be happy to provide you with a list of present and past customers, subcontractors, material suppliers, and financial institutions who can attest to our performance and reliability.

Look to your prospective contractor’s website or social media for proof of past work samples. If they do not have either of these, you can request that they send you pictures.  Or better yet ask if you can visit one of their current projects they are working on. This way you can get a tangible idea of what they can do in real time.

Texting, Calling, email, and Construction project management platforms; it is preferred if your contractor communicates with you in all these styles. When vetting potential Contractors ask them what types of communications they use. If you have have different contact methods for them use different ones and see how quickly they are to respond back to you. A responsive contractor is a good indicator that your project will be done effectively and to your preferences.

When looking for a contractor it is a business standard to get at least three estimates. Be cautious of estimates that are too low and too high. And don’t, absolutely don’t make your final decision based on the lowest bid.  Ask contractors that you are interviewing if they are cost plus or fixed cost.  Neither style is inherently better than the other. The style of pricing should be based on the scope of the work. Here is a bonus tip, the more you avoid change orders the more you will stay on budget. 

Hiring a contractor with a robust network of subcontractors is critical to ensure that your project runs smoothly, and you receive a quality piece of work for a good price. If your contractor has a good working relationship with other subcontractors, they will be able to shop around for the best prices for your job.  Of course, you can elect to find and use a subcontractor yourself but if the contractor and subcontractor have no prior working relationship together things may not run as smoothly for you.

It would be a red flag if a general contractor doesn’t provide a detailed contract that outlines all project details, costs, and responsibilities. The contract should be lengthy.  In fact, here in California it is the law to have a written contract for all home improvement projects over 500.00.  Your home may be the most valuable asset you will have in your life so having a detailed contract is in everyone’s best interests. Just think of how many papers you must sign when buying a new car. If you are unsure about any of the language in the contract, ask the contractor for clarification or consider consulting with a legal professional.  Your state licensing board may also provide comprehensive information about contracts as well. If you are here in California, you can find information about the information that is stipulated in a contractor’s contract.

You want a contractor with a can-do spirit, one who is flexible and adaptable to nuanced situations that are bound to arise during the course of your project. Again, this is why you want to ensure that you choose an experienced contractor.

A homeowner should ask a contractor what his warranty is. Check with your state to see what the law requirements are for contractor’s to warranty their work. You can ask the references provided if they have had any issues with work perform and what was done about it when they notified the contractor.

A good contractor will provide you with a schedule and timeline of how long the project is expected to take. Keep in mind that setbacks are inevitable. Setbacks that may happen are things like rain delays, lack of inventory stock, city inspections to name a few. As mentioned in tip #4 avoiding change orders will keep your project on schedule and on budget.  Remember this bonus tip: If your preferences are turbulent and changing than your budget and schedule of completion will also be turbulent and changing.  

Take it as a red flag If a prospective contractor is hard to get ahold of or doesn’t answer their phone. If the individual is dodgy or unavailable from the beginning, it may be a sign of what is to come. It is important to be able to get ahold of your contractor, and you should feel like your call is important to them.

Take it as a red flag if a contractor is constantly rescheduling to meet with you. This may be a sign that they are too busy, don’t practice good time management or are simply not that interested in your job. Don’t waste your time, move on.

At the end of the day, you must feel right about this decision. You will have a relationship with this person for anywhere from a month to 2 years so ask yourself do you like this person enough to have a working relationship with them?  Do you feel that you have a good report with them? Do you think you can trust them and their company in your home? Ask yourself these questions when talking with them.