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Customer misconseptions when hiring a contractorHere is a short list of the most common customer misconceptions when hiring a contractor.
Less expensive is allways goodWhen did we become such a bottom line society? It seems that people have forgotten about the concepts of value, worth, quality, and service. I even see it among builders. They hire the cheapest roofer or sider they can find so their profits will be bigger. Yet the quality of their homes reflects the quality of the contractors that were hired. Contractors and remodeling materials are just like anything else in this world “YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR”. If you want a cheap roof with an above average chance of leaking, then hire the cheapest roofer you can find. But if you want a quality job, then hire a quality contractor.
My contractor should know exactly how long my project will takeThere are some situations where your contractor will have to figure things out as he goes. Any time a contractor is hired to remodel a home, he is building on some one else’s foundation. This can be extremely difficult. In addition, there are circumstances that arise that can not be foreseen. For example, I was hired to replace some windows for a customer. I gave a quote based on a standard “remove and replace” scenario. Unfortunately, once the windows were removed, it was discovered that the framing that supports the windows had dry rot. The exterior of the house was sided and of course the interior had drywall. The rot was completely hidden with no way to see it until the windows were removed. Needless to say, it took much longer for the window replacement than originally estimated.
My contractor should know the exact cost of my projectMost of the time, this statement is true. But once in a while, things happen resulting in unexpected expenses. . Using the example in number 2, there was extra labor and materials required for the installation of the windows. As stated, there was no way to estimate the cost of replacing the rotted wood since no one knew it existed. It’s always a good idea to have some reserves before you start a large remodeling project. Chances are there will be some unexpected expenses.
Remodeling and new construction require the same skill setWrong! It is much easier to build something from scratch than it is to remodel! As a matter of fact, an individual who specializes in new construction, may not be your best choice to remodel your kitchen for example. Remodeling takes some vision and ingenuity to blend the new in with the old. The more remodeling you do, the better you become. At Tanner Phillips, we like to say “lets make it look like it was always there and we never were“. In other words, we want to make the remodeled area look like it was designed for the home from the beginning. We try to leave no mess or any other evidence that we were even at the home. Make sure you conduct a contractor interview and find out if the contractor you are considering has remodeling experience.
Demolition is fun and easyAll the home improvement shows on TV make demolition look fun and easy. The fact is demolition can be dangerous, messy and if done incorrectly, you can cause your self a lot of trouble. Be sure you know what you are doing before you start to remove items from the interior of your home. Know where your pipes, ducts, and electrical components are located. Breaking a pipe and flooding your home or getting electrocuted can really make for a bad day. If you are not entirely sure that you know what you are doing, then I would suggest letting your contractor perform the demo.
If you have any questions about any of you remodeling projects, contact me and I will get you the information you need. Leave Customer misconseptions page and return to contractor page
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