Kelli Taylor with KCTV5 took a look at how to avoid getting ripped off by contractors when you’re remodeling your home. Living through a remodel can be tough but the right remodeling contractor should make it easier which is why it is so important to do your homework before selecting your contractor.
Kelli looked to Charlie Schloegel of Schloegel Design Remodel for a few tips on finding the right remodeling contractor for your job. Charlie says, “You want to see if someone has a business license and if they’re truly a licensed contractor in the different municipalities your home may be in. Making sure they’re qualified to work there. In Johnson County and Kansas City, MO you need to pass a test that gets you a license to perform work in those areas.”
We also suggest looking at their online reviews and experience. In addition to these tips, we recommend asking your contractors a few questions about their business and for references. These questions will help you understand their business, how they handle finances and what you can expect in their process.
Questions to ask contractors:
- How long has your company been in business?
- Do you have a history of servicing projects during the warranty period?
- Is your company a member of any trade organizations or the National Association of the Remodeling Industry?
- What suppliers do you utilize most often? How long have they been using these suppliers and do you have an open account with them? (Quality contractors have good working relationships with suppliers and can purchase materials on an open account with 30 days to pay.)
- What is included in the contract?
- Does the contract provide a list of what is included and not included?
- How does your company generally handle disputes?
- What is your standard payment schedule?
The best way to understand a contractor’s work is to ask past clients about their experience. Request several references of projects which are similar to yours and preferably in a similar neighborhood.
You may want to ask their references these questions to understand their experience.
- Did you work off a fixed price contract or a cost-plus-time and material contract?
- How did the final price compare to the original estimate?
- Did the scope of the project change much once the job started? If so, do you feel the project could have been better planned up front to minimize changes?
- Were the quality and service what you expected?
- Did any problems arise during the job and if so, how were they handled?
- Was a schedule of the job provided from start to finish? If yes, how close were they to the finish scheduled date?
Hopefully, the answers to these questions will help to guide your decision when selecting a contractor. It’s important you feel comfortable with the contractor you choose as remodeling your home is a large investment. The right remodeling contractor should make living through your remodel as easy as possible and complete the work as promised.
Are you interested in remodeling your home? Contact a Schloegel expert today to learn more!
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