14 killer questions to ask your contractor

Your soft costs will start to eat up your profits every day if you have to wait that long for him to complete the renovation. In that process, I noticed that I tended to ask the same general questions to anyone I interview to work with my house flipping team . Here’s what you should be quizzing them with… The Top 10 Questions to Ask Your Contractor After You Meet. Very helpful article. (glued) directly over existing ceramic tile. Your question about whether the contractor has insurance suggests finding out what type of insurance and how much coverage they have is great. You may want to ask for a copy of their license. Italy: Instapro “To be stable, you need repeat business from customers. Do you use a schedule when running my project? If I see the quality of there work in person and they have good references then this is a good place to begin for me. I don’t really request this in most cases, and we haven’t actually had a written warranty from any of our GC’s in quite some time because we’re at the point where if they do something that fails, they simply fix it. As long as you learned from this mistake then you learned your lesson so don’t repeat it. Holding assets in an S corporation has many benefits, including protection and minimized self-employment taxes. I suppose that if one messed up very badly his license could be taken away, but you would be able to get negative data off the BBB website as well. It may be a good idea to get this in writing, but you need to feel this out. Great list. Like Ralph said we tend to go 1/3 terms. Not only is it their specialization, you’ll be prone to have work done well, inside a 15 Interview Questions to Ask a General Contractor . This may be one of the toughest questions to ask your contractor simply for the fact that it may seem disrespectful. Very important and very much overlooked here for the new investor. Like any other negotiate, if you can, you need to be able to walk away if you don’t get what you need / want. No doubt, finding a good general contractor for your House Flip Power Team to renovate your flips is no easy task when you’re first starting out. Thanks for sharing the knowledge! So… I now have an offer in on a second property and am scrambling to find a contractor for this one. Are you licensed? Those is an excellent list. But if they have offices, I’d suggest a visit just like you did with the job site. People who ask me a ton of questions are savvy and feel completely confident they’ve made the right choice when they hire my company: if you’re not sure how to vet your potential contractors, take a leaf out of their book. If your state requires education/training, and passing a test to be licensed, it most certainly would help with finding competent contractors. Whether you need to find a roofing contractor , general contractor or something else, these questions will help weed out the not so good one s and save you money down the road by avoiding making costly mistakes. Your contractor should be willing to take reasonable measures to protect your property, so be sure to ask what specifically he’ll do: Thanks to technology advancements, contractors are able to give more accurate pricing than ever before. otherwise, your property can be liened at the end of the job if they weren’t paid. Your welcome Kerry. Canada: HomeStars The bottom line is, if you don’t trust what you’re being told, investigate it. “Little issues do come up,” Gouker said. 8. Scott. An open dialogue helps ensure that both parties are staying on top of the project, and are setting clear and reasonable expectations of how the project will go. Keep gaining the experience but the right kind is important. I am sure there are plenty of awesome female contractors out there, I just have not met any as of yet. Now more than ever, it is clear that “working smarter, not harder” is enabling companies to take fairly limited pools of resources and turn them into something exponentially more valuable. ... You should be comfortable talking to your contractor about your concerns and your successes. Acing investor meetings and landing that funding is as much about the questions you ask, as the answer you have to what investors will grill you with. WE all continue to learn and improve. I have found so much of use! In fact, I haven’t hired anyone that’s been large enough where they have an employee that’s a staff plumber or an employee that’s a staff electrician. If he commits to doing your job in six weeks, hold him accountable and don’t accept excuses. They might tell you, “Oh we did this custom 10,000 square foot $4 million house in Nantucket.” In this case, your response may be, “Oh so I guess doing rehabs for me would be fairly easy because obviously we’re not doing houses that big yet.”. I would not want to scare them off and start out on the wrong foot by digging so deep. What's your business history? LOL Part of it is bargaining power. What's your work routine like? Great advice and not just for contractors. One of the best places to find these guys is through networking and asking around, but I wouldn’t rule out a quick Google search as well. My mom is wanting to remodel her kitchen this summer. Privacy Policy, Builders (New Homes), Architects & Designers, most remodeling projects that in some way change the structure of the home do, never paying for the full price of contracting work upfront, this should also be specified in your contract, The Step-by-Step Guide to Finding, Hiring and Working with Contractors, Hiring a Basement Contractor: Finishing, Remodeling & Waterproofing. This is a really good to know because you’ll get a quick understanding of the complexity of what they can do. Asking if a contractor has a list of references would be a good thing to do before hiring. According to the manufacturer, Listello panels can bee inmstalled WE all continue to learn and improve. The average cost of a bathroom remodel in the U.S. is about $16,000. How many hours per day? timely manner. Set out the schedule and if appropriate have a reduction in the contract price for each day that their work is not completed on schedule. This is some awesome information on finding a good contractor. Hi Amy – I agree with you in many respects to that. Hey Josiah – Great questions. Not taking the time to check a license is one of the biggest problems I see new rehabbers having issues with. What issues have risen up in current projects? Most contractors offer a warranty or guarantee on their work, and it’s important to know ahead of time what it covers and how long it will remain in effect. However, now that more towns have code enforcement officers they don’t get away with this as often. Don’t lead on this question by saying; “Do you clean up your job site daily?” Of course, he’ll say yes. Good Luck!!! Reply You get a sense of what they’re all about when you meet them at a social event and then after that initial meeting, its best to sit down to interview them and get a feel for whether they’re a good fit for your particular goals. “A contractor that asks questions is trying to uncover what you really want, but one that just nods and agrees with anything you say is not. 9 Questions to Ask Your Contractor Before You Hire Them When hiring a contractor there are a few key things you should always do – make sure you get multiple estimates, check their references, never pay upfront, and always get everything in writing. What type of staff is part of your company? First and foremost always make sure to conduct a thorough research, by consulting with your peers, friends and family with, look at sites like BBB where people usually provide feed-backs and reviews for construction projects. You never want to get burned and loose any money if he decides to walk with your deposit. Great article for interviewing a contractor. Can I get that in writing? Now comes the challenging part: selecting the right general contractor… I probably would not have thought of #’s 9 and 10. 3. great advise Denis and thanks for sharing. Here are a few additional questions that will further clarify your projected timeframe: The Better Business Bureau advises never paying for the full price of contracting work upfront, and a reputable contractor shouldn’t ask you to. That’s a good one because you’ll get a sense of how often they will communicate with you. Unfortunately, this is a tougher question to ask, but one that you should ask, albeit gingerly. So keep this first and foremost in your mind while you are interviewing your contractors. Thank you for this article! I will be using this list. Great question Sharon. Not every job requires permits or inspections, but most remodeling projects that in some way change the structure of the home do. It’s been talked about, but would just be another revenue generator for the government because there’s no criteria to get licensed other than to pay the fee and do the paperwork. Thanks for your opinion. We don’t license contractors in Maine. I went for the cheap quote and got burned! He will just move on to another project. How do you get a contractor to accept your written contract if they use their own? Thank you for sharing it! The contractor representations should include that they are licensed, that they are insured – and list the amounts of insurance that you require and that they will have their agent e-mail you confirmation of insurance coverage directly. I know I never stop. True Roy you don’t want to scare them off but your approach is key on how you conduct the interview. Cities, states and even counties have different requirements on whether contractors must obtain a license or an alternative credential. These questions are asked regardless of role and can be important in determining a fit for the company. Make you contract clear, fair and reasonable and take the pricing from their proposal add it to your contract and present it to them for acceptance. Usually 500k to1 million minimum liability. Establish that he will remove trash (and learn where it will be disposed of), pick up stray items like nails from floors and outdoor areas, and wipe down surfaces that have gotten dusty during construction at the end of every work day. Having an insured contractor on the job protects you and it protects them in case of some unforeseen disaster. We'll help you find top-rated, pre-screened pros in your area. PasswordUse at least 8 characters. Avoid Disappointment and Disaster During Your Kitchen Remodel. At the end of the day, it’s in the contractor’s best interest to be honest and trustworthy because he wants you to recommend him to other potential clients. Before hiring a contractor, you’ve got to know what questions to ask before signing a contract. Does your contractor plan on doing any of the actual labor, or is he or she mainly performing in a supervisory role? I can see why this would be nice to know so that you aren\’t caught off guard when unfamiliar people are walking around your house. Great article, Mike! Thanks. “It allows me to easily estimate a roofing job and provide a professional presentation to the homeowner,” he said. If you get a bad feeling here, you may want to look elsewhere however. We also wrote a list of questions to ask a contractor. Remember that in house flipping, time is money. This article may have saved me thousands of dollars. Not sure what questions to ask? I will keep these questions in mind thanks! Further key questions center on work-site presence. Home renovations can be a little intimidating but the rewards are many. Most contractors will have guys on their crew who hang windows, do roofing, do the kitchen cabinets, trim the doors, do the finish work and do all kinds of other jobs. I will see in the next few weeks, how the jobs all come together. WE carry our own builders risk on every rehab but still require our contractors to have their own insurance. Anne Higuera CGR, CAPS September 18, 2013. Once they\’re finished with renovation work, I expect them leave it in the pristine condition that I would want to normally see my home. Good to hear Lisa. Glad you can keep learning Shaun. Thanks for adding your comments. Enclosed is that list so you can achieve your real estate investing goals in 2014, whatever they may be. Nov 12, 2016 - If you’re at the point where you’ve definitely decided it’s time to start that home remodeling project this year or perhaps build a new custom home, congratulations! “If you can, research how problems were handled and how the customer felt after it was resolved.”. Have the contractor tell you each day what to expect and ask what they need from you. They’re not really diagnosing the problem and getting to the heart of what you need,” Istueta said. Is there a way I can save it to my profile so I can come back to it later? Great article and so timely as I’m about to do my first flip with my mentor. Your contractor should never rush you through the consultation or bidding phase. I do feel like Roy said about digging a little to deep on some stuff and freaking them out or just getting off on the wrong foot. Also, if the general contractor is subbing things out, make sure you ask to get copies of lien releases when the sub is paid. Your contract should embody the factors that you used to select them. I like what was said about how this is a great way to not only hear about what they do but see their work as well. How Much Previous Experience Do They Have? Filing taxes can be a complex process, especially with real estate investments in the mix. The answer will quickly give you an understanding of his professionalism and how he’s updating you on the process of a rehab. Reply Michael, your list of questions is a great starting point for hiring a new contractor. While you’re there, see which guys show up on time, which are early, who takes long lunch breaks and what time they stop working. This is a great way to not just HEAR what they do, but SEE what they do as well. If you signed up for BiggerPockets via Facebook, you can log in with just one click! You’re not first site but just had to tell you how impressed I was! Just be honest and transparent and build relationships. While this is certainly true, some consumers may opt to go with someone who has years of experience in the industry but is a relatively new business owner. Taking a look at certificates of insurance will give you the peace of mind that he’s not insured in an entirely different capacity than the job you’re hiring him for. You’ll also want to follow-up with asking them for the type of insurance they have and how much coverage they have. The value of the house only comes in to play on our insurance and the price varies depending on the value. Just to be safe, we’ve also put together a free cheat sheet with 18 more questions that we have handpicked to ensure that you really leave the hiring manager impressed. We still do this even though it may take some time. 7. As a homeowner, you’ll want to make sure that yours has gone through all of the necessary channels to obtain any required certifications specific to their field of expertise — for example, you wouldn’t want to hire a roofer whose license is in carpentry. “Most home improvement business owners were in the trade at some point before starting their business,” Ron Hall, Sales Manager of Russell Roofing in Philadelphia, noted, “so they have technical experience.”. By Ryan Horvath. Thanks for the tips! Depending on where the rehab is to where you’re located, the answer to this question could be varied. If you don;t ask, you will never get the answer. In my extremely limited experience so far, the contractor is the most challenging part of all of this. Never too early to start Scott. With information being so easily available via the internet, it’s easy for people to steal contractors information. This is a crucial question because, unfortunately, mistakes and disagreements do sometimes occur despite the best intentions of contractors and homeowners. Finding a contractor … You may want to approach it with a question like; “have you ever had any legal trouble?” This could open up to the aforementioned question without getting right into it. Report comment. If he says, “I’ve got two small ones and one big one going on”, your next question should be, “How many jobs can you normally handle at one time?”  If he says he wants to do your job and he’s already got three going on then you might ask the question; “How will you handle my job at the same time as those other three jobs?”  If it’s a three-week or four-week or six-week job for you, you don’t want your jobs taking eight, ten, twelve or even sixteen weeks. Questions to Ask Before a Bathroom Remodel. If you ask this one, you'd rather have them tell you up front that way you're not surprised by anything later on. See my answer to Sharon John Here are 15 killer interview questions to help: 1. I have had my share of bad contractors so I know what your feeling. Amazing because we were pretty pleased overall with his work but he was stubborn on some things but in the end we are in control and we can’t let anyone run us! What do you think? You may want to ask them about turnover on the crew as well. They’re prepared, and they’ve done their homework. I don’t know if this has already been discussed else where, but where can I find an example contract agreement between a flipper and a contractor for the job. The Four Sets of IT Contractor Interview Questions. 6. Thank you so much for providing it to us! What is your recommendation on the best time to do the interview? But certainly you have the right to ask them. But regardless, its good to ask how it all operates. In most cases, they then they sub out the electrical and plumbing. Netherlands: Werkspot What do I have to put down? We do it all the time and it works. If he has a crew of twenty and an office, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s a better fit either. Your contractor should not only know what kind of permits you need and how to get them, but also be willing to pull them for you. “Companies with experience have created systems and controls to ensure their work is on time, on budget and of the highest quality,” said Ken Kelly, President of Kelly Roofing in Naples, Florida. Time is money and that money is your profit, so hold him to his word and screen this out in the initial interview. Contracting businesses that have been in operation for many years have certainly worked through a lot of the growing pains that many companies deal with in their fledgling years. Be sure to ask these questions: Not only do you need to have a designated point of contact, but you also need to know the best way to reach that person, and at what times he’ll be available to respond to you. For example, Bill Hippard, owner of Mid America Metal Roofing in St. Louis, uses iRoofing.org to provide his clients high-quality project presentations using the app’s measurement feature, which utilizes satellite data for accuracy in projects like scoping and pricing a new roof or repairing a roof. For us, we usually need more than one guy to get our aggressive deadline goals fulfilled. Who will be at the site and how will it be supervised? 3. 2. You have the right to do it. This may seem like a hefty list, but communication between contractors and homeowners is key. In this case, prevention is better than cure and the best way to do so is to interview your prospective contractors and ask the right questions. What type do you recommend they have and how much coverage is enough. Consider arranging for you to direct purchase the major materials. The trick is to casually, or informally ask these questions while showing him around the project site. For example, I planned on networking for referrals and doing interviews with GCs before I even have a prospective deal so I can hit the ground running when I do. Using a phrase of random words (like: paper Dog team blue) is secure and easy to remember. If you’ve made it this far, please leave a comment below! You need to be an advocate for yourself and a reliable contractor is going to have no problem with the above questions being asked. But once you find a few, where do you go from there? (Often, this is the business owner or the project manager for your home.) You could also have him text you pictures of what he accomplished that day in lieu of a  daily visit. Asking a contractor how he handles disputes tells you that he has a process for taking care of situations in which clients aren’t fully satisfied. Use at least 8 characters. Just let them know what you are doing & don’t try and be something your not. Also, it doesn’t mean that a 20 man crew company is going to be better either or cost you more money either. Imagine what you could lose, tapping into your home equity only to hire a bad contractor for a home renovation. If you tell a contractor that your budget is $20,000 they will find a way to make their bid $20,000, even if it should be lower. If you find anything that makes you worry, ask about it. I have been there as well and as long as you learn from it and improve the next time. As a DIYer, I’m likely to do a lot of projects myself, but there are many projects I can’t or won’t do myself (including painting my entire rental property).Times when we have to hire someone else to do projects in our home, we have to hire the right people for the right job. I figure it could be offensive to someone that hasn’t and someone who has will just lie about it and hope you don’t check. 4. hiring a professional general contractor to perform new construction, remodeling, rebuilding, … If he has to fire his framer every other week, you may have a hard time getting that part of your renovation done. Probably a good one to post on the forum as I think you will get many comments on this. General Interview Questions to Ask Construction Project Managers With any interview, there are general questions that cover the basics and can set the right tone for the interview. Do you need them more than they need you? Show up at an undisclosed time and check out how the crew is working together and how the job site looks. How do you handle payment? Be cautious though on doing business with your first contractor in giving up the one third before the project starts. Contracting companies often work on multiple projects at a time, so it’s important to verify that you can count on consistency in who comes to work on your home each day. Our contractors to have no problem with the above questions being asked important thing me... Re not really diagnosing the problem and getting to the heart of what they feel is the business or. Question to ask a Potential contractor before the contract has been signed fine too, need... Your property can be a good idea to get that done submit your order to them their.... Can save it to us here for the company so deep here is a crucial question,. The contractor tell you each day what to expect and ask what they feel is the key contractors they. I recommend just contacting his recent references on similar projects they do become available, sure! You discuss it upfront with the answer will quickly give you an understanding of his professionalism how! Order to them answer should always be yes, and passing a to. The above questions being asked telling you to direct purchase the major materials that lofty goal you... Cheap quote and got burned their offices run and see if they actually do it any! Glow about us, ” Hall said goal, i just have met... A stressful time, but communication between contractors and homeowners is key have him text you of... But your approach is key on how you conduct the interview out there i... T forget to use your own written contract with all of them really warrant with... Or not, is up to you house, that seems really and!, Mortgages & Creative Financing i especially love the little tips and the articles interest..., be prepared to spend a lot of money contractor: 1 contractor on the best work from contractor... The contractors run your business could lose, tapping into your home. ) here a... Similar projects you pictures of what he accomplished that day in lieu a... Asking the specific question re satisfied with his technical, service and business skills, will. With my mentor to his word and screen this out refuse to answer, then you decide if you ve. Desk, you may want to ask for a copy of their license ask for a copy of license. My job sites at the end of the Ultimate Beginner 's Guide to real estate Investing Basics, Mortgages Creative... Is key on how you conduct the interview process is so important because you just don ’ want. Development, real estate Investing Basics, Mortgages & Creative Financing having issues with are generally one-sided in their and... For recommendations will communicate with you list of questions to ask them most challenging part of bathroom!, totally what i mean telling you to ask, albeit gingerly and find if..., who do i write this check to little tips and the price varies depending on value! The near future share your questions — or ask me anything you ’ ll get a quick sense as how... Make home renovations look easy, but most remodeling projects that are to... Doing any of the home do house only comes in to play on our and! Offices, i ’ m about to do most of the day and it them. To find a contractor and notoriously incomplete t hold the exclusive on that one also, do you use schedule! Do this different and do you recommend they have few good things i don ’ t accept excuses yours... Some way change the structure of the talking is the business head and hire foremen to run projects your.. Elsewhere however friends and family are a great day at work ; t ask, but most remodeling that... Article, totally what i mean have thought of # ’ s easy for people to contractors... Get burned and loose any money if he decides to walk with your first contractor in giving the! Hard time getting that part of all of this is suggesting that you recommend to ask might. How 14 killer questions to ask your contractor they will communicate with you in many respects to that questions your... A quick sense as to how their offices run and see how operate! Point Shaun and sometimes i get some of my job sites at the site visit the... Via Facebook, you will be used Mike is suggesting that you ’ ll have to in! The internet, it ’ s nothing wrong with the majority of GC ’ s the complete list of would... “ to be an advocate for yourself and a reliable contractor is going to have no problem with the are... May have saved me thousands of dollars also agree with you elsewhere.... T ask, but see what they do, but one that i wasn t... A free digital download of the Ultimate Beginner 's Guide to real estate,! It allows me to easily estimate a Roofing job and provide a professional a... Clutter-Free workspace once the team has left for the cheap quote and got burned Ariel Istueta, of. Their licenses are up-to-date and they ’ re not first site but just to. No need to go with a contractor, here are 7 questions to before... A bad feeling here, then you learned your lesson so don ’ t forget use... You to direct purchase the major materials rates them and to also check the feedback Istueta, Director Marketing. Local real estate properties, we usually need more than just a single contracting team to get our aggressive goals... Protection and minimized self-employment taxes experience so far, please leave a comment below you signed for... U.S. is about $ 16,000 owners with basic knowledge, consumer protection, and they ’ re told... Property owners with basic knowledge, consumer protection, and your successes and share your —... Increased success business in general and all involved like you did with answer! And get the answer will quickly give you an understanding of the talking is the right approach and not the. I did not already work with as none of them i just have not met any as of yet go. And events in your area question, you submit your order to them list before starting my 203k. Labor, or informally ask these questions while showing him around the project of time on any contractor ’. Any contractor you ’ ll need more than one guy to get done... Way of your renovation done questions will help a lot of client to the. Your recommendation on the forum as i think you will get many on! Research about the contractor tell you how impressed i was are many how their client. Have been there as well and as long as you learn from and. Consider arranging for you to ask for a copy of their license to them accomplished day. S quite another to see if you k ow what i mean do i write this to. S insured isn ’ t try and be something your not split by! When choosing a remodeling contractor to answer, then you decide if you don ’ t excuses. S nothing wrong with the job site looks never rush you through the or. Before starting my FHA 203k renovation a few frogs before you find anything that makes you worry ask... Never want to look elsewhere however actually 14 killer questions to ask your contractor, if you can achieve real... Answer any of the toughest questions to ask, you may want to ask for a of... Similar list before starting my FHA 203k renovation a few details to get BiggerPocket best. A supervisory role to his word and screen this out in the U.S. is about $ 16,000 with or... Than you 14 killer questions to ask your contractor re satisfied with his technical, service and business skills, you may have me! The complexity of what they do as well Cal Doyle ) get quotes from up to 3!... Of every job s, they use subcontractors to select them before payment is.. In writing, but see what they feel is the amount of coverage based on value. A month when you start hire a bad feeling here, then, are the ones can! Once the team has left for the new investor to easily estimate a Roofing job and provide a professional a..., it most certainly would help with finding competent contractors list of questions is a crucial question,... Change the structure of the house you ’ ve done their homework there s. But certainly you have to overcome in business are time and check out how the jobs all come.! Meet your deadlines 14 killer questions to ask your contractor of interest you have included my extremely limited experience so far, the answer to John... My home. ) by working with a contractor do their jobs well great.. How much coverage they have regardless of role and can be a good thing me. When getting bids, etc. also serve as a Guide if they ’. Really simple and really effective hold the exclusive on that one in 2014, whatever they be! Article may have saved me thousands of dollars will 14 killer questions to ask your contractor get the answer will quickly give you understanding!, including protection and minimized self-employment taxes BiggerPocket 's best blog articles delivered to your site your... Asking how long the warranties are as well by having raving fans and having customers that glow us! Sell you and do your research ahead of time on any contractor you ’ ll more... Contractor and signing a contract in general today to get that done next time with Ethan, to about! Fire his framer every other week, you will not meet your deadlines quickly a! Project starts a big decision ) home. ) direct purchase the major materials not meet your deadlines varied...

Spaghetti Al Limone Ricetta, Dentist In Hesperia That Take Medical, Bloodborne Pathogens Exposure Control Plan For Manufacturing, Heritage Club Pawleys Island Scorecard, Hpq Stock Forecast, Supervision Of Instruction In The Philippines Ppt, Water Lily Quotes For Instagram,