How to Find a Good Contractor

If your remodeling plans are big enough that you need or want a contractor, take it from us: Be very careful in whom you select. You want to find a contract that is reliable and that you can trust. There’ll be enough going on during the project. The key word is “reliable.”

Lynda Lyday has some great advice on how to find a contractor:

• Good references are key . Request references and a portfolio of previous work to verify the quality of craftsmanship. Check with the Better Business Bureau to see if there have been previous complaints.
• Take a drive and look at some of the houses the contractor has built or redone . If he is new to your area, that in itself might be a red flag. Was he fleeing from displeased clients?
• Never make the final payment before the work is completed . Contractors have a nasty habit of disappearing once they’ve been paid. Lyday says avoid anyone who asks for the entire fee in advance, insists on being paid in cash, or suggests you borrow money from a lender he knows. He might be getting a kickback.
• Communication is everything . We can’t emphasize enough how important this fourth point is. We’ve heard horror story upon horror story about what can go wrong when some little detail isn’t crystal clear. Before you sign the construction contract, make sure it specifies exactly what is to be done, how much it will cost, and how payment is to be made.

Dolan Tip: Never make changes to the contract by oral agreement. If you want to change something later, always get it in writing as part of a “change order.” You and the contractor are likely to have entirely different recollections of the same conversation.

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