How to Choose a Contractor for Bathroom Remodel
You’ve decided to take on a bathroom remodel, you have your finances in order…now what? There is a certain amount of legwork that is required before undertaking a major renovation like a bathroom remodel. You will want to hire an experienced bathroom remodeler to do the job, but how do you know you are getting the best contractor?
Steps to Take Before Hiring a Contractor
There are numerous ways you can set your bathroom renovation up for success. One of which is to hire a competent bathroom remodeler for the job. Here are 5 things to know before hiring a contractor.
- Ask friends and family for referrals. If you love your best friend’s bathroom remodel, ask her who did the work for her. This is a great way to generate leads and get you started on your contractor search.
- Ask your potential contractors for references. Not all bathroom remodelers are created equal. Securing multiple referrals serves a number of purposes. One, you know your contractor has performed this type of job at least a handful of times. Two, you will be able to get insider information and experiences that can help you decide which contractors to eliminate from your list.
- Do your research. Once you gathered enough information by word of mouth, dig deeper. Make sure that your contractors have the proper credentials and licensing to perform your project. Compare various certifications as well. Some certifications are more rigorous and harder to obtain, meaning that contractor put more work into his studies and is likely more skilled.
- Interview your potential contractors. Limit yourself to three candidates (any more than that can become overwhelming), and set up interviews. You will want to ensure that your contractor listens to your design plans and understands what you want from the project. You do not want a contractor who does all the talking and refuses to take your desires into consideration. Of course, you want your bathroom remodel done to code, but at the end of the day you have to live with the final results.
- Get a written contract. You will want to ensure that you have a professional and clearly written contract before beginning any work on the project. This helps protect you as well as the bathroom remodeler. Make sure your contract includes estimated costs and a payment plan, defines the scope of work, a schedule of tasks, a change-order clause in case the unexpected occurs during the project, a dispute resolution clause, a waiver of lien so subcontractors cannot put a lien on your house in the event that the contractor does not pay them in a timely manner, warranties for materials, and any oral agreements made prior to the contract.
If you do your due diligence prior to hiring a contractor, you can save yourself a lot of headaches, money, and sleepless nights. While it may be tempting to accept the lowest bid, it is not always the wisest choice. Make sure you hire a contractor with the proper experience, quality workmanship, and reasonable prices for materials and labor to get the best possible bathroom remodel.
