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It’s safe to assume that your home is one of your greatest investments. Owning one most probably required you to save money for a couple of years and practice discipline when it comes to your personal budget.
This is the reason why as a homeowner, you should be careful about the general contractor you choose. You should pay attention to who you hire for your roofing and construction needs. This person can significantly affect the value and longevity of your investment.
Several general contractors like Patriot Roofing And Construction, are accessible regardless of your location. However, hiring the most accessible or convenient general contractor doesn’t guarantee positive results – there are other factors to consider.
How to Choose a General Contractor for Your Roofing and Construction
If you’re looking for general contractors for the first time, you might be easily deceived by businesses who promise you affordable rates or those who use extravagant marketing campaigns. You might even start looking for contractors who can get the job done without considering other factors before deciding.
Let these tips help you choose the best general contractor for your roofing and construction needs:
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Get Referrals From Different Sources
A reputable general contractor won’t be able to operate longer in the market if he doesn’t have any satisfied customers – he should have at least a handful of loyal customers or a proven track record to warrant his products and services.
You can determine all of these things once you get referrals from different sources. If you know some of your friends or family members who hire a general contractor in the past, ask for their recommendations. Ask who among the general contractors today can provide what you’re looking for at a price you can afford.
While you’re at it, don’t forget to ask about general contractors who are shady or operating illegally. You should stray away from contractors like these. You can also expand your search by looking at online reviews. The more information you have on a particular general contractor, the better.
Check the License and Insurance of the General Contractor You’re Eyeing to Hire
Once you’ve asked referrals from your own social circle and from the internet, you’ll likely have a list of general contractors you’re eyeing to hire. With this list, do your homework and assess if these people are licensed are insured. This might seem like a very technical task, but actually, it’s not – there are many ways on how you can get this information.
For starters, you can directly ask the general contractor if he is licensed and insured. If he tells you that he is, research more by using different online resources. There are now websites which allows you to look up a contractor’s credentials by simply typing their names.
A contractor’s license and insurance are vital in more ways than one. A license is important because it can give you that peace of mind knowing that you’re only hiring a contractor who is trained and skilled for the job.
A license can also become proof that the contractor has been approved by the state to work as one, on the other hand, can help you save money from paying additional repairs or replacements from the contractor’s prior services. Insurance basically covers the minor problems which can take place after the contractor completed his project with you.
Assess the Experience of the General Contractor as This Can Also Affect the Success of the Project
Keep in mind the maxim that states “Experience is the best teacher” when you’re deciding which general contractor to hire. The moment you narrowed down your list of options, schedule an appointment with the general contractor or their representative (if you’re eyeing to hire a big company for a big roofing or renovation project).
Utilize this time by asking about the experience of the general contractor on the project you want them to do. A contractor who is adept in roof replacements might not handle other projects involving your roof so make sure to ask. As much as possible, be specific to the project you have in mind. Let them know what your expectations are so they would also know if they can meet all of these.
Price Will Always Be an Important Deciding Factor
As a homeowner, money will always be an important resource. You’d need to have a full-time job or a booming business just so you can sustain the needs of your family or ensure that everything in your home is working perfectly. This is also the reason why when you’re hiring general contractors, always pay attention to the price involved.
Before saying “yes” to a contractor, determine how much are you going to pay for their services and what factors can possibly affect the total cost of the project. Get down to the nitty-gritty of the money involved once you hire them.
Doing this will make it easy for you to budget your finances without compromising anything along the way. And besides, you don’t want your property to have an unfinished roof just because you weren’t able to afford the total cost of the replacement, right?
Be Warned of General Contractors Who Can’t Provide You With Contracts
Gone are the days when business agreements are sealed with a handshake. In today’s era of lawsuits and unsatisfactory services, this gesture doesn’t do the trick anymore. If you want to avoid any legal responsibilities while making sure that the contractor also meets his side of the bargain, only work with those who can provide with a contract.
This document is one of the signs of a contractor’s reliability. With a contract, it shows how serious the contractor is in doing business with you and that he’s not hesitant to put his name on the line just to achieve this goal.
Once a contractor hands over a contract to you, carefully go over the entire document and ask questions if ever certain items are unclear to you. Never sign any legal document unless you’ve understood everything that’s stipulated there. And yes, this includes reading the fine print of the document.
Never Give in to Pressure
Having a lot of contractors to choose from can be a positive thing, but over time, the number of choices can also become too overwhelming that you’ll end up clueless on who to hire. This is especially true if you’re hiring one for the first time – you won’t have any background on who and how to pick the right general contractor.
If you’re caught in this kind of situation, always remember not to give in to pressure. This pressure can come from your friends or family pushing you who to hire or from the contractor who is telling you to sign a contract right away.
As mentioned, choosing a general contractor is important as this can affect your property in a lot of ways; there’s too much at stake so make sure that you only make sound and careful decisions.
Hiring a General Contractor Isn’t a One-time Thing
There are several general contractors operating in your area today making it easy for you to choose from. However, once you hire one who fits your needs and budget, doesn’t mean that all of your worries will be gone – you still have to maintain communication all throughout the project.
Communication is important before, during and after the project to ensure that the expectations of both parties are met. This is especially important for clients like you because you would always want to know where your money is going and if your vision for your property will be met. Once you already have a few options of who to hire, never forget to ask how they usually maintain communication between clients.
Inquire if they would rather talk to you through e-mails, phone calls or personal appointments. While you’re at it, ask how often you can reach out to them. Since you’re the client, their communication channels should be suitable to your lifestyle.
Customer Service Should Always Be Part of Your List
The price you’re going to pay and the services you’re going to enjoy from a general contractor will always be important. These are probably the two main reasons why you’ll choose a certain contractor for your project. There’s nothing really wrong if these two are your major concerns, but you shouldn’t forget the importance of customer service, as well.
Keep in mind that you will be working with the contractor for weeks or months, and your relationship with him will affect your life one way or another. You want to work with a general contractor who makes your life easy, not the complete opposite.
You’ll Reap What You Sow
Choosing a general contractor should be taken seriously. Aside from the impact, he’ll have in your home, the right general contractor can also provide value to your money.
He can increase the curb appeal of your property and the value of your home, as well. If you want to achieve all of these benefits, exert time and effort in choosing a general contractor for your roofing and construction needs. This task might seem daunting, but once you’re able to hire the right one, all of these will be worth it in the end.
