Seven Ways to Ensure You Hire The Best Contractor For Your Home

You may be in the market for either home construction or home improvement. You may want to expand your home or just renovate it to add more value in the future. If so, you should hire a professional contractor. 

With the many contractors out there, you won’t have any problem looking for one. But still, how do you determine who is the best contractor to get for your home? How do you make sure that the company you hire will be someone who will work according to your standards? And how can you be sure that they will be worth every penny you spend?

Well, wonder no more! Here are a few guidelines to help you identify the best construction company for your needs. Let’s get to it!

The best contractor for your home is licensed and insured.

A great contractor is both licensed and insured. They go hand in hand because for a contractor to be legitimate, their company has to be licensed. In most states anyway, you can’t work with an unlicensed contractor. And when a contractor is licensed, you can be sure that you are working with an experienced contractor. For them to get and keep their license, it means they were able to demonstrate the proper skills needed. And you need to know that, especially if they are handling plumbing, electrical wiring, and other construction work.

A licensed contractor will also have insurance for their business, which can be very beneficial on your end. That way, both you and the contractor are protected if anything happens. For example, what would happen if someone got injured at a worksite, and there is no insurance? As the homeowner, you might end up the one being liable. Or if you end up injured, you might not be able to get compensation if your contractor is not insured. Insurance will also cover any damage that may be done to your property, like scratches on your floor.

The best contractor for your home is cost-effective.

Many homeowners tend to focus too much on price when reviewing the bids they have received. If the project’s requirement is straightforward, the cheap choice can be the best. However, that is rarely the case. There are plenty of companies that will promise cheaper prices, but give you shoddy outputs. And remember, if the contractor does a lousy job, you will end up spending more hiring a better contractor. 

Reputable companies charge more for a reason. Of course, you don’t have to get the most expensive contractor either. When choosing a home improvement company, don’t focus on just the cost. focus on other factors too. These include a contractor’s experience, quality, and reputation. Since there are many companies out there, do your research and make sure you get the best deal possible. It’s best if you get a written estimate with a breakdown of materials, labor costs, and other expenses. 

They have references and testimonials from people in the area to show you.

A referral from a friend, relative, or neighbor can often lead you to a good contractor in your area. Therefore, it’s best to ask for referrals from people in your area who have completed similar projects to yours. Their first-hand accounts will give you insights into the quality of work offered by their suggested contractors. 

An excellent contractor will always hire the right crew.

A good contractor will not put a random crew together to work on a large project. They’ll make sure their crew is capable of doing the job and be able to follow instructions. Preferably, the best contractor will have an in-house team. That means the contractor personally knows the people they’re getting. They won’t be some random people they picked up on the street. It also means you can trust the quality of their work if you trust the contractor. Hiring someone that’s put together a good crew to work with them will help protect you from construction headaches.

The contractor always has everything in writing.

A good contractor will make sure to have everything written down. They will not start any work before the two of you sign a contract. On your end, be sure to ask for a contract before any work begins or before you make a downpayment. Make certain all agreements are in writing, and the contract is clear. Here are some items that should be included:

• A detailed description of what work needs to be completed 
• How much the work will cost, including any charges that they will charge to you
• A precise schedule for the payments that need to be made
• The date when the project is expected to begin and an estimated time of when it will end

If the project involves substantial costs, you might want a lawyer to review the contract before signing it. Also, make sure that the contractor will sign, just like you. And never accept a contract with blank sections. 

The contractor will respect your limits and expectations

Let’s face it: at any time of our lives when buying something, you will be upsold to. And that’s totally normal. Even your contractor may do it to you. For example, you just want a basic balcony. He might try to upsell a second balcony or a balcony with better reinforcement. But a good contract must also be respectful of your needs. So if you insist that you’re only willing to spend this much, he should back down. If he doesn’t, that might mean he is hard-headed. And a hard-headed person might be hard to talk to down the line. It’s probably best to get a different contractor.

The contractor communicates with you regularly.

Isn’t it annoying when you don’t hear from a contractor you hired for a long time? Not only is it annoying, but it can also be nerve-wracking. It will be doubly annoying if you live far away. How will you know the progress of the work? 

An excellent contractor will be the one to communicate with you regularly. You won’t have to run after them! They will keep communication lines open always. You’ll be kept up to date with the progress of the construction and if there are any problems. And don’t feel bad about needing constant updates. It is your home being built and your money being spent, after all. 

There’s no better contractor for your home than Chambers Bay Construction.

Still Googling for “best construction company in Washington, Tacoma, Lakewood, Gig Harbor?” Go with your gut and hire us at Chambers Bay Construction. We are a full-service, design-build general contractor. With over twenty years of experience, we can handle pretty much anything you need! Need site development, renovation, remodeling, or high-end finishes? We have you covered. 

You can trust our work because we take pride in working only with top-rated crews, architects, and interior designers. Also, we believe in doing things right, or not doing it at all. We guarantee that every employee and crew member of Chambers Bay embraces this culture. 

Contact us today and let’s get started! We look forward to working to making your dream home into a reality.

sales@chambersbayconstruction.com   |   (253) 686-0240   |   3800 Bridgeport Way, University Place, WA 98466