|
If you needed heart
surgery, would you ever consider asking three surgeons to submit bids and then go with the
lowest price? The answer is an emphatic, "Of course not!" However, many
homeowners think nothing of spending tens of thousands of dollars and opening up their
home to a remodeler whom they have selected based solely on his price. Granted, a
remodeling project is not a life threatening operation. But it could have a definite
effect on the family's well being and financial health. Many factors other than
price need to be considered before the best contractor for the specific project is found.
A common tactic is to solicit bids from three remodelers. Price
then drives the selection. As an afterthought, the homeowner may check the
remodeler's reputation, references, insurance and licensing. No job interview begins
by negotiating salary, and hiring a contractor should be no different. Before you
get to compensation, you want to be sure you have a qualified applicant.
One of the first things to check is references. It's important
that you talk with people who have hired the remodeler to do projects like yours.
You'll want to ask the references if they had any problems with quality, payment schedule,
employees or completion time. The most telltale question is "Would you hire
this contractor again?" Some people will be hesitant to make negative comments,
but the enthusiasm with which this question is answered can usually tell you everything
you need to know.
After you've talked with references, take a look at the work.
Check the quality of the craftsmanship and material, overall aesthetics and creativity, and
how the project blends in with the rest of the house. Verify the remodeler's
licensing and insurance. Other indications of professionalism are membership in
national and local trade organizations, and third-party warranty guarantees. Once
you have done your homework and feel confident the remodeler has a proven track record of
quality and service, then it's time to discuss the project's details and price.
When you are purchasing a new car, you're purchasing a product
and can see what it looks like. With a remodeling project, you're purchasing a
concept and don't see the finished product until well after the contract is signed.
This is the reason why bid shopping works for automobiles, but not for remodeling
projects. You can ask three dealers to price specific make and model car, and be
fairly certain you are comparing like products. But with remodeling, the products
could differ significantly. There can be many reasons for a lowball bid including
shoddy materials, poor craftsmanship, inadequate safety precautions, lack of insurance and
licensing, or inexperience. Be sure the proposal and contract are as thorough as
possible including names and models, cost, payment schedule, procedure for change orders
and completion date.
If you like the contractor and are confident with his work, but the
proposal is beyond your budget, all hope is not lost. Ask him what can be scaled
down to meet your budget. It very well could be something minor such as using stock
cabinets instead of custom, or selecting different model of tiling, countertop or trim.
Quality is never cheap and good research may seem like a headache.
But see what an expensive headache really is by having a lowball bidder take the
roof off your house, disconnect the plumbing and leave no forwarding address as he skips
out on the final payment.
from Advanced Design and
Remodeling Magazine |
|
• 
