Choosing the right contractor is the biggest task facing a homeowner who wants to remodel. So, before you jump into a project, consider these ten important questions… and our insights. We believe they will be helpful to you.

Q:  Am I going to get ripped off here… I hear so many horror stories…
A: You’re right. The stories of unqualified and/or unscrupulous contractors are widespread and, unfortunately, true. That’s why it is imperative that you thoroughly check out any prospective contractor you may hire, including us.

Start by asking for a copy of his MHIC license. This is not a business license, it is a contractor’s license from the State of Maryland. Make sure it is in the name of the contractor, not some buddy of his, and that it is current. You can go to the Maryland Home Improvement Commission website to check for yourself at:
http://www.dllr.state.md.us/pq/

Also ask for a copy of his insurance certificate. Call the company to confirm it is still in force. Be sure to also have the company issue you a “rider” before you sign a contract with the contractor. This document will list your address as a covered jobsite and acknowledge that the contractor has the appropriate insurance for your job. Be sure to check the expiration date. If it will expire before the job is to be completed, ask for an extension that covers the entire expected job period.

Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if any complaints have been filed against your prospective contractor.

Do your homework… it will pay dividends later and prevent headache, heartache, and loss of money. Remember, the biggest part of a successful remodeling job is your choice of contractor.

RemodelMax: Our MHIC license number is 96753. Please go to the MHIC website and confirm that for yourself. We’ll be pleased to put you in touch with our insurance company and to have them create a rider for your job. And please do call the BBB. We’re proud of our reputation and invite you to confirm it for yourself. You’ll be pleased with what you learn!

Q:  Will they know what they are doing… how will I know?
A: Get a list of customers for whom they have done similar work. Call those people. Make appointments to go see the work. If the contractor only wants to show you photos and is not willing for you to personally meet his clients, he’s not the right person for you. Be sure to ask the former clients what homework they did in checking out the contractor before signing a contract, and what they learned in the process.

When you visit a previous client, be sure to ask if the job was done on time and on budget. Ask about any difficulties the contractor may have run into along the way and how he resolved them. Keep your eyes open. Look carefully at the work and ask yourself if it’s the quality you want in your own home. Don’t be shy about asking questions. The contractor’s client will understand – they went through the same process before they chose a contractor.

Ask the contractor specifically who will manage your job on a day-to-day basis. Will it be the contractor himself, or a project manager. If it’s someone other than the contractor, ask to meet that person. Make sure you are comfortable with him. And be sure to ask the references about him.

Also, ask the contractor about the number of jobs he will have going simultaneously during your job. Ask him to explain how he is staffed and how he plans to cover multiple jobs while doing yours. If you are leery about it – if you feel like he will be spread too thin – share those concerns with him and see if his response makes you more comfortable. If not, you should probably look for another contractor.

RemodelMax: We’ll be pleased to share our client list with you. They are varied, so you’ll have plenty of opportunity to understand who we are, the quality of our people and their work, and our level of our service. Be frank with your questions to our clients. They know us well and will give you straight answers.

We’ll explain who will be managing your job. We’ll also give you an overview of our current workload and how we plan to manage your job simultaneously. We’ve got nothing to hide so, if you have any questions, feel free to ask!

Q:  Will they show up on time?
A: This is a question you must ask previous customers. Nothing is more frustrating and irritating that waiting around for a contractor or subcontractor to show up and have them either not show, or drag in hours after a scheduled appointment time with a million excuses, or maybe none. Again, ask the previous customers about the contractor’s track-record for timeliness.

RemodelMax: Character counts! That includes being considerate of other people, their time, and their home. Throughout your job we’ll do our very best to communicate frequently with you. That includes any schedule changes so you’ll not be left waiting for us to show up. Your time is important to us, too.

Q:  Will they do what they promised?
A: It’s one thing to sign a contract with a list of expectations from the contractor, and another for them to actually deliver on those promises. And this is not just about whether or not they complete the job, but whether they complete it in the manner promised in the contract… which brings up a whole other topic… the contract.

Here’s a basic rule to remember about remodeling: If it is not in writing in the contract signed by both you and the contractor, it isn’t likely to be done, and you will have no recourse after the fact.

Get every expectation in writing in the contract. Get the contractor to divide the contract into logical parts: foundation/slab, framing, roofing, electrical rough-in and finish, plumbing rough-in and finish, HVAC rough-in and finish, drywall, trim, painting, flooring/carpeting, appliances, countertops, interior and exterior doors and hardware, etc. DON’T LEAVE ANY STONE UNTURNED. A quality contractor will be delighted to give you a breakdown so you can see exactly what you can expect in the finished product, and the milestones in the process.

Make sure your contract states what you will pay and when. Be sure that it is divided into logical sections (draws). The contractor will need a deposit up front. That gives him the funds to buy materials. But this should not exceed one-third of the total. The rest of the contract should have several milestones that the contractor must meet before you write a check. Make sure those milestones include a signed-off inspection by your municipality. If you are borrowing money for the job your bank may also require that they inspect the work before advancing money for a draw.

One other contract tip: if you make any changes along the way with your contractor, get a price for the work before it is started, get it in writing, and keep a copy in a secure place. Both you and the contractor must sign change orders. That’s just good business.

RemodelMax: Ask to see a copy of our contract. We are committed to spelling it all out in writing. A strong contract is a good protection for both of us. Our contracts list the steps in the project and the associated payments. It’s presented in a very clear fashion so there is no confusion on expectations for either of us. And we always put change orders into writing so there are no surprises later. Be sure to ask us questions about the contract and the process. Neither of us wants any surprises later.

Q:  Will they do it right the first time?
A: Hello… this is a HUGE question to ask previous clients. You want a contractor who has a well thought-out plan and who sticks to it. But, if something is initially done incorrectly or doesn’t go the way you or the contractor expected, what is the process to correct the problem? Ask their clients. Did they correct it? Did they do it in a neat and timely manner? Did they do it with a cheerful attitude and without complaining? Ask those tough questions!

RemodelMax: Talk is cheap. So ask our clients. To make a profit we need to do it right the first time. Strong planning and great communication with our clients makes this a realistic outcome. We’ll do our darndest to always do it right the first time… and on time, too.

Q:  Will their workers and subs be ruffians or gentlemen?
A: You can have the nicest, cleanest-looking, smoothest-talking guy from the contracting firm come to call on you, to make a plan, and draw up a contract. But he’s probably not the guy who will be swinging the hammer or hanging drywall. So be sure to ask previous clients about the workers themselves. Were they polite? Did they dress appropriately? Was their language coarse?

Did they smoke? If so, was it outside, and did they clean up after themselves? And what about their personal trash? Did they clean it up every day? Did they play music so loudly that the neighbor’s dogs were howling? Did they appropriately clean up their work area every day? You get the drift. Do your homework. Ask the questions. Go to a one of their jobsites in progress and see for yourself.

RemodelMax: We have a great crew, and responsible subcontractors. Our own crews wear a RemodelMax uniform shirt so they’re not going to show up at your home looking (or smelling) badly! We don’t tolerate foul language or unprofessional behavior, either. Whether employee or subcontractor, if they want to work for us they will act courteously and professionally… and do great work, too! That’s our promise to you.

Q:  Will they mess up my house/possessions in the meantime?
A: You worked long and hard to buy your home and furnish it in a way that pleases you. The last thing you need is some gorillas coming in and messing up the place because they weren’t paying attention to details. Details are everything in a remodeling project. You should be asking in advance how they plan to cover/tarp your home during the construction. What will they put up and take down daily so you can still function while living there? How much cleaning will they do at the end of the work day? What will your house look like when they go home every day? (Oh, and how many days per week will they actually work?)

If you have extremely valuable or fragile items, it probably makes sense for you to put them away during construction, just for your own peace of mind. But be sure to ask the previous clients about their experience – did the crew keep the jobsite clean? Were they careful not to scratch floors or furniture, not to walk across carpet with muddy boots? It’s your home and you have the right for it to be respected and cared for by your contractor and his subs.

RemodelMax: Professional behavior means respecting not only our client, but also his or her home. At the outset, before we sign a contract, we’ll discuss with you what needs to be done to protect your home and possessions. They’re important to us, too. Our folks understand you’ll be living in the home during the construction, so they’ll clean up at the end of each work day. If you see things that need their attention, please let them know and they’ll be happy to take care of it for you.

Q:  Will they actually complete the job?
A: When you consider this whole list of questions, this one should probably be at or near the top. The payment steps in your contract offer some protection to you. But doing your homework is what will allow you to sleep at night… before the job starts and during construction. Look carefully at the finished jobs you visit. Ask the client if every step of the contract was completed. Probe, probe, probe.

RemodelMax: We have a 100% completion track-record. Ask our clients. And ask them what they heard from their investigation before they did business with us. We don’t promise what we can’t deliver, and we deliver what we promise. That’s not always easy, but it is our guiding philosophy… and our corporate policy, too. We need your referral for future jobs and will do everything practical to complete your job in a manner which earns that referral.

Q:  Will they complete it on time?
A: Some construction projects take on a life of their own. Some contractors lose control of their jobs; some don’t care as long as they are either getting a continuous stream of deposits on new jobs, or getting enough draws on existing jobs. Your homework should give you comfort on this issue. Ask former clients specifically, “Did the contractor complete the job on time as promised?” Remember, additions/changes to contracts will necessarily extend the completion date, but be sure you are comfortable that the job will be completed in a timely manner. It is probably wise to allow an extra margin of time for any unexpected things that may come up during construction, including inclement weather, permit/inspection delays, etc.

RemodelMax: “On time” is one of the two or three largest challenges to any contractor. In our planning process we do make allowances for the unexpected. We’ll be happy to share that information with you from the get go. But the most important part about completion time is communication. Ask our clients how we communicated with them. We’re going to do our very best to keep you as up-to-date as we are on job progress and estimated completion dates of each phase. We’ll also always take your phone call. None of this “send it to voicemail” stuff. If we happen to be unavailable at the moment you call you can be sure we’ll get back to you shortly. That’s just good manners.

Q:  Will I love the result?
A: Let your eyes and ears give you this answer. Study the plans thoroughly, and not just with the contractor or his representative sitting there. Take the plans. Pour over them. Share them with others and ask for their input, especially if they have done a similar remodel in the past. Consider, consider, consider. Make sure you know what you will be getting and have realistic expectations. Look at the smallest details of the jobsites you visit. Listen to the clients. Ask them for advice. They’ve “been there, done that”.

Picture yourself in their home. Would the quality of work you see be pleasing to you for your home? Be sure you are thoroughly pleased with the work you see and that you have confidence in both the contractor and his work.

RemodelMax: You’d better love our work, or we’ll be hard-pressed to eat! Let’s spend the time together to develop a thorough plan that incorporates your vision and fits within your budget. Before we sit down to do that, however, make as detailed a list as you can of all the things that are important to you. Think about where you want windows – or do you want some skylights, too? Think about storage. Think about flooring, and cabinets, and countertops, appliances, doors, hardware, etc.

But don’t get overwhelmed. We’ve done this many times and will be glad to help you develop the final “checklist” that we’ll incorporate into our plan and contract. Then, let’s go look at some of the jobs we’re in process of completing and some that we have completed. Talk to our clients. Think about your job as you are looking at theirs. We’re confident you’ll love our work and will be delighted you chose us as your contractor. We’ll do everything practical to earn that delight.