Planning
for a home remodeling project and selecting a general contractor can seem
daunting. This helpful article takes the
guess work out of the procedure by neatly organizing the process; from the
planning stage to selecting a contractor, to the contract itself.
Are
you considering a home remodeling project for your property? Most remodeling projects involve either
structural or aesthetic aspects which might require several specialized technical
skills. If this is the case, you may want to enlist the services of a
general contractor.
A
general contractor negotiates a contract for the entire remodeling project, and either completes the specialized work with
his own crew, or sub-contracts to other
various house remodeling contractors.
Some of the specialized areas might include planning/architecture, concrete, plumbing, electrical, roofing, dry wall, cabinetry, or painting.
The Planning
To
get an accurate bid from a potential general contractor, it is very important to plan carefully, with much thought and consideration. You may
want to involve an architect or draftsman to generate the blueprints for your
project. Remember that any home remodeling features not included in the plans
will not be included in the bid.
Once
you have detailed plans for your project, you need to start the selection process for a
general contractor. Canadian residents
can go on-line to Handy Canadian.com for a list of qualified, licensed contractors.
The Contractor
It
is a rule of thumb to get at least 3 bids from separate remodeling
contractors. Provide each with an
identical set of plans. Be upfront about
your expectations, and request they be
realistic about time, cost, and interruption factors. It is wise not to
make a selection based on price alone; other considerations are equally
important.
Before
you accept a bid from a contractor ask questions : What experience and
references do they have from projects similar to yours? Will they be working on
other projects simultaneously with your own? If they will not be personally
working at your site, how much time each
day will they spend supervising? Will they use their own crew for some or all
the work? How available will any sub-contractors be? What licenses and
insurance do they carry? And what is the time line of the project, start to finish? These are questions any reliable, qualified general contractor should answer and
outline in the contract.
The Contract
When
negotiating the contract for your home remodeling project, be thorough and accurate. Include complete names and addresses of both
parties, a detailed job description, material specifications, start and finish dates, any warranties on work or materials, and payment options.
It
is fairly common for a general contractor to ask for 10-33% of the estimated
cost in advance; most contracts provide for payment as work progresses.
A
reliable, reputable contractor will
agree to contract terms which help protect the interests of both parties.
By
being thorough in your research, planning, and contracting process, you can look forward to enjoying the results
of your home remodeling project for many years to come! home remodeling, house
remodeling, general contractor, remodeling, remodeling contractor
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