Considerations For Hiring A Phoenix Home Remodeling Contractor

Homeowners decide to take on a Phoenix home remodeling project for a variety of reasons. They may have outgrown their house and need more space. They may need to spruce things up to sell in a competitive market. Or, an update from old to new may be in order for the homeowner's pleasure.

In the "should I stay or should I go" scenario, home remodeling remains a viable alternative to moving your life to another location. According to industry experts, choosing to remodel makes sense if the improvements are less than 30 percent of your home's value. You can get another room in your house, update a bathroom or kitchen, or create an outdoor living space without the upheaval caused by selling, buying and moving to a new home.

Although remodeling can be an attractive choice, it also comes with some pitfalls if you don't hire the right contractor. Selecting the right Phoenix home remodeling contractor from the get-go means your project won't fall into the "remodeling nightmare" category.

Heed the following advice in these three areas when hiring a Phoenix home remodeling contractor and you'll be one of the many remodeling success stories.

Define your project and your budget

To get the best results from your Phoenix home remodeling project, it's critical you translate the details to paper. You may be able to visualize what you want, but a remodeling contractor can't always see through your eyes. Or, if you don't have a clear picture of your project, how can the contractor deliver as expected?

Before interviewing potential contractors, make sure you thoroughly understand the work you want done, the end result you want to see and the job quality you expect. Visit show rooms, building materials stores and model homes. Look through magazines and web sites to get ideas. Then translate this all to your project scope and requirements list.

Once you have a good picture of what you want, you need to figure out how much it will cost. Homeowners commonly underestimate remodeling costs and may be disappointed when they have to scale-down their dream project. So, it's better to know upfront what your ideas will cost and see if it fits within your budget.

This initial phase of your project may take some time, but it will benefit you and your project in the end. You'll streamline the rest of the project if you realistically match your desires and expectations to your budget (or vice-versa).

Do your research

A successful project requires significant upfront work before you sign on the dotted line. At a minimum, make sure you:

1.Check zoning, HOA and other regulatory and legal requirements for your project. Contact your local building department to determine if a licensed professional and/or permit is required for your project

2.Make a list of potential contractors. With your project and budget defined on paper, start exploring remodeling contractors who could perform the work. You want to consider many options at this stage of your project. Get referrals from material suppliers, trade associations, neighbors, friends and family.

3.Conduct a preliminary background check. For each remodeling contractor on your list, verify license status and license standing history with the appropriate licensing board. Check the contractors out on services like Angie's List. Look at neighborhood job site signs to inspect local projects.

Visit each remodeling contractor's web site and learn all you can about their qualifications and the services they provide. How long have they been in business and what accomplishments have they made in their industry? See if they're a member of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, the only trade association solely representing the remodeling industry.

Also, check the Better Business Bureau for complaints. The National Registrar of Contractors is another source, as well as other local regulatory agencies.

4.Make a short list of contractors to interview. Based on your initial research, narrow your list to the top three or four candidates. Call each candidate and schedule an interview. During the interviews, share your project scope and requirements list.

Ask to see work portfolios, design plan examples and references. Focus on issues like quality assurance, change order management and project management. Make sure you understand a Phoenix home remodeling contractor's timetable for things:

-Do they have time for your project?
-How long do they expect your project to take?
-When will they submit a bid?
-If they are the successful bidder, when can you expect a contract? When can they begin work?

5.Compare bids. After you've finished interviewing all prospective remodeling contractors and received their bids, make sure you compare cost estimates apples-to-apples. You need to work with each contractor to understand and evaluate each price factor, especially if you receive drastically different bid amounts.

Of course cost is an important factor; but not at the expense of a quality project. You have to weed through the bid items and determine if material and labor costs reflect higher or lower quality. In other words, is the bid higher because of better quality materials? Is it lower because of shoddy materials? Are labor costs higher because of better craftsmanship? .

6.Check references. You're arrived at the final step in the selection process: checking references. At this point, make sure you have all the materials you requested from the interview. For example, if any contractor has not provided references during, or soon after, your interview, move on.

Also, make sure you have a bid for the work that fits your project budget before you spend time checking references. It's also important to gauge a contractor's interest in your project. Only check references and spend additional time on remodeling contractors who demonstrate they truly want your business.

When you do check references for your final candidates, ask the references if they would hire the contractor again. Ask what the contractor did especially well and what they did that wasn't so great. Did they finish on time and within budget? Was the work quality as expected? Were the workers courteous?

Know the contract before you sign

You've defined your project and done your research. And the top candidate is ready to begin your Phoenix home remodeling project. However, your work isn't over just yet. You need to finalize the contract.

A written agreement greatly improves your chances of success when working with a remodeling contractor. Never let work begin until you have a signed agreement in hand.

For small projects, you can get away with a standard work order. However, larger projects, like room additions and remodels, require a detailed contract. Make sure the following points are covered in your agreement:

-The contractor's basic information. You should make sure you're contracting with the company you interviewed and researched. Identify full business name, business address, phone number and professional license number.

-Project timeline with delay penalties or on-time completion bonuses noted. The starting and completion dates must be in writing. Understand the day-to-day schedule as well. When will workers arrive in the morning and quit work each day? What days of the week will they work? Will they work on holidays? Will the remodeled area be in or out of service?

-Detailed description of items and materials including everything to be installed and all work to be performed. Everything must be in writing, including color, weight, size, quantities, quality, brand names, etc.

-Detailed summary of costs, fees and payment schedules. The contract should break-out labor and materials costs. Understand when payments are due and in what amount during the project phases. Never pay a contractor in full before the work is completed.

-Project staffing. Make sure you understand who will do the work at each project phase -- employees of the remodeling contractor or subcontractors. All subcontractors must be properly licensed, bonded and insured as well.

-Subcontractor payment and mechanic lien handling/responsibility. Require the contractor to include a lien waiver. This waiver covers payments to all subcontractors who worked on the project and eliminates your liability. Make sure the Phoenix home remodeling contractor has a good history of paying subcontractors on time.

-Change order rules, responsibilities and contract cost adjustments. Pay particular attention to how change orders will be handled.

-Insurance and bond coverage requirements. It's imperative your contractor be insured against workers' compensations, property damage and personal liability in case of an accident on your property. You absolutely must protect yourself, so ask for proof of coverage. Also call the insurance carrier to verify the coverage is effective.

-Warranty on workmanship. Most reputable contractors offer either a full or limited warranty on materials and workmanship for one year.

-Project cancellation rights and penalties. Federal law requires the right to cancel the contract within three business days if you signed it in your home and in the presence of the contractor. After that period, you may be liable for cancellation fees. Make sure your agreement spells out what happens if you cancel.

-Responsibility for material selection, purchase, delivery acceptance and storage. Clarify all aspects of material handling throughout your project.

-Job site cleanliness, worker conduct and rules for use of on-site facilities. You also need to make sure all debris is removed by the contractor at the end of the project.

A Phoenix home remodeling project can be a fun and rewarding experience. Just make sure to hire a contractor based on skill, reliability, understanding of your remodeling project and cost. Don't just look for the lowest price. By following these guidelines, you can avoid becoming a remodeling horror story. Instead, you can look at your beautiful new kitchen, bathroom, bedroom or outdoor space with a smile on your face!