15 Questions to Ask Before Hiring Your Contractor

As the owner of a local company that designs and builds custom homes and Larger-scale remodeling projects, I have heard plenty of “horror” stories from our clients and friends who have suffered through a prior project. Many of these miserable experiences were due to their contractor’s lack of dependability, poor communication skills, less then professional conduct, scheduling and cost overruns, etc. Although, some of these stories are entertaining, others are very concerning and tend to hurt the credibility of our entire industry. After listening to one of these unfortunate accounts, I like to ask a few questions to learn how the client qualified their contractor for the project. I usually find that too little research was performed on the contractor prior to signing the contract. It is my belief you can uncover any “red-flags” with your potential contractor if you ask the right questions. To help prevent your project from becoming a tragedy, ask your contractor the following questions before hiring him or her:

1. What is your background and how experienced are you in building or remodeling?
   You don't want your home to be a training ground for someone trying to learn the business. How old is the company and have they performed similar projects to one you are considering?
   
   
2. How experienced are the people who work for you?
   The company you hire is only as good as the people in it. You should look to see if the complexity of your project matches the experience of the company and its team.
   
   
3. Do you have a Residential Builders License?
   The State of Michigan requires a Residential Builders License or a Maintenance & Alteration License for any labor performed or materials supplied totaling $600.00 or more. To verify whether or not your contractor is licensed, you can check the Department of Labor & Economic Growth’s website at www.michigan.gov or call 517-241-9288.
   
   
4. Have you worked in my city or township before?
   Check with the local municipality’s building department to ensure that your contractor has a good track record within your community.
   
   
5. Are you a member of the Builders Association of Metropolitan Flint or the Home Builders Association of Livingston County?
   Membership in these organizations suggests a contractor's desire to support the industry and community, however, it does not guarantee the contractor is a good match for your project.
   
   
6. Will you furnish me a list of your past clients?
   Don't ask for one or two references. Most contractors could do that. Ask for 20 or more names and then call a minimum of three or four. It is important to talk to prior clients who hired your contractor to perform similar projects to yours.
   
   
7. Will you furnish me with trade and financial references?
   You need to know exactly who you are dealing with.
   
   
8. How much do you charge for estimates?
   With the amount of time and energy it takes to furnish a professional presentation of CAD drawings, computer modeling, detailed specs and scope of work, one can no longer expect this service for free. Most companies will provide the initial consultation for free.
   
   
9. Will you furnish me with detailed specifications and a scope of work?
   More problems and misunderstandings develop in this area than anywhere else. Be sure you clearly understand what the contractor is doing and what they are not doing. The specs and scope should be reviewed in detail with the client prior to signing a contract.
   
   
10. Do you furnish me with detailed drawings?
    A good project begins with good design. A complete set of construction drawings should be completed prior to signing a contract.
    
    
11. What happens to me if you, the contractor, gets ill or becomes disabled?
    Although the size of a company does not necessarily insure a quality project, you want to be sure the firm has enough depth to successfully complete your project in a timely manner.
    
    
12. What insurance do you carry to protect me in case an accident occurs?
    If someone gets hurt on the project, and it can happen, you may have to pay for that worker's injuries and support unless your contractor is properly insured. Request a copy of your contractor's insurance policy and make sure their coverage is adequate. Your contractor should carry both General Liability Insurance and Worker’s Compensation Insurance.
    
    
13. What kind of warranty do you offer and is it in writing?
    Read and question the warranty. It needs to be in writing.
    
    
14. How will my project be supervised?
    Supervision of a company's project is subject to the depth of experience of their personnel. A “lead” person should be assigned to your project and should manage it from start to finish.
    
    
15. Will someone be working on my project everyday?
    With today's trend to rely more on trade contractors and less on employees, this question becomes very important. Almost all companies use trade contractors to some degree. It is important for you to know how this will impact your project.