Finding a St. Louis remodeling contractor is something every homeowner should consider when they are thinking about changing certain parts of their house. Although there are those who say they can do it themselves, the fact is that there are so many factors to consider during the remodeling process. An inexperienced individual might find themselves not only overlooking important aspects of the project but also making decisions that would prove wrong in the long run.
Of course, that doesn’t mean that just any St. Louis remodeling contractor will do. Following are some tips on how to choose a contractor for home remodeling.
References
The best source to find a St. Louis remodeling contractor is through friends and family members. Try asking trusted individuals about excellent contractors that they have used in the past, whether for home remodeling, custom home building or new construction services in the St. Louis area. A contractor offering or specializing in any of these fields will make for a good resource for your home improvement project.
Background Check
Of course, a reference – no matter how glowing – needs back up information. In order to do this, try visiting the main office or website of the St. Louis remodeling contractor to find out exactly what they are capable of doing, how long have they been in the industry and other pertinent information. Try to find out if the company is insured or not. If the information is not immediately available through the site, then contact them through the data provided in the site. Check out if the contractor or remodeling company is licensed to do remodeling work and a member of the National Association of Remodeling Industry (NARI).
Check out the Portfolio
This is perhaps the most important part of hiring a St. Louis remodeling contractor – seeing exactly what they managed to accomplish for business. Homeowners should be able to find contact information and ask for a collection of the contractor’s previous work. The good news is that with technology, sending and receiving portfolio pictures should be easy between the St. Louis remodeling contractor and homeowner. Often times, contractors have their portfolios up on their website, so be sure to visit and browse their web presence.
Ask for Estimates
Obviously, the cost is an important factor when choosing a remodeling contractor. Ask for an estimate of how much the project would cost and get it in writing. Make sure to read the fine print prior to signing anything and ascertaining that the cost would cover everything that will be done in the house. Nobody wants hidden charges showing up after the job is over and done with. Keep in mind that the goal here is not to find the cheapest contractor, rather to find the business that offers the most at a reasonable price.
Finish Date
Since the contractors would be working on your house, it’s doubtful that certain areas will be usable throughout the remodeling process. This can be very irritating for the homeowner, making it important to have a set reasonable length of time for completing the project. The St. Louis remodeling contractor should be able to set a finish date and adhere to it to that time frame (within reason) in order for the homeowner to get back to normal life.
Of course, these aren’t the only things every homeowner must check out for when choosing a St. Louisremodeling contractor. As much as possible, go with someone who feels right or those who are willing to listen and explain work progress on the house.
