Questions to Ask Prospective Remodelers
Here is a list of questions you might want to consider asking a prospective remodeler. Ask them all or select the ones you feel are most important to you.
Also see Questions to Ask References.
- How many projects do they take on at one time?
- Do they ever take workers off your job to go to another job?
- Do they schedule the work to be finished as fast as possible for your convenience, or, as most projects are scheduled, around the builder’s needs?
- Do they guarantee price and schedule?
- Do they offer a warranty? If so, for how long and what does it cover?
- Are they properly and fully licensed to do what you want?
- What type of general liability insurance do they carry? How does their insurance protect you, the homeowner?
- Will they provide you with documentation of the licenses and insurance coverage?
- Do they carry workers' compensation? Do their subcontractors?
- How do they select their subcontractors? Have they worked with them on a long-term basis? Are the subcontractors fully licensed and insured?
- Do they handle all zoning variance issues, permits, inspections and licenses?
- Do they provide the option of design/build services, working with your architect, or just construction?
- Are their people trained and experienced in working in occupied homes? Do they know what to do to protect your home?
- Do they do the kind of work you are looking to have done?
- How many projects like yours have they done?
- How long have they been in business?
- How long has the owner been in the industry and in what capacities?
- What are the qualifications of the architects and designers they use?
- How do they assure that what they design can be built within your budget?
- Do they provide full turnkey services? If so, what does that include?
- Can you see photos of their work?
- Do they have a rigid process for project management or do they have high standards but work their process around your needs?
- How will communications be handled at each stage of the project?
- Do they have recent references?
- Do they have references from homeowners for whom they worked 5-10 years ago?
- What percentage of the project manager’s time will be devoted to your project?
- Do they build to meet code or do they build to exceed code? If so, in what ways?
- How do they figure and use ‘allowances?’
- How do they estimate their ‘allowances’ for things like tile, lights, appliances, etc.? Do they estimate them to allow you to buy low, medium, high, premium, or super-premium quality products and building materials?
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