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10 Vital Questions To Ask A Contractor Before Hiring - Properties - Nairaland

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10 Vital Questions To Ask A Contractor Before Hiring by AsomArchitectNG(m): 10:01am On Dec 20, 2018
Hiring a professional contractor can be a stressful undertaking. It’s hard to find someone you can trust. We’ve all heard a million horror stories about contractors doing a terrible job, massive cost overruns, and contractors disappearing with a client’s money.

Believe it or not, finding and hiring a great contractor doesn’t have to be a nightmare. There are plenty of reputable companies out there who provide quality work at a reasonable price, and who dutifully complete the jobs they are hired for.

One way for you to have peace of mind is to know the right questions to ask a contractor before hiring them.

If you’re ready to hire a professional for the job, make sure you remember these 10 vital questions to ask a contractor. Continue reading to learn more from our helpful guide.

1. How Long Have You Been In Business?
Among the most important things to learn about them is their business history. A contracting business that has been in operation for a number of years, or even decades, is more likely to be dependable.

They will also have a wide range of experience with a multitude of different kinds of projects and be able to offer you the phone numbers or references of satisfied customers.

2. Do You Have a Contracting License?
Any legitimate contracting business will be licensed to operate in the city or state in which they are located. Make certain that the person is actually certified for the particular kind of work you are hiring them for. An example would be a carpenter who isn’t licensed as a roofer. Each state has specific requirements that must be met in order to become certified there.

3. Will There Be a Team Dedicated To My Job?
Most successful contractors have multiple projects going at the same time, so you need to be sure that your job won’t be put on the back burner. Find out if a project manager will be assigned to your home, and whether any of the work will be done by subcontractors. These variables can have a huge impact on how quickly the work gets done.

The more organized the work environment, the more efficiently the work will flow. Ask to meet the project manager before work begins. Have them walk you through what their typical day looks like and the number of workers that you can expect to have onsite at any given time.

4. What Is Your Work Day Like?
It’s a good idea to find out what you can expect to be accomplished each day. Are there specific start and stop times? Should you expect a certain noise level? Will they need you to be at home at all during the workday?

Another thing to consider is courtesy to your neighbors. You’ll need to discuss the parking situation, noise, power outlets, and restroom use. We recommend mentioning to the neighbors nearest to you the work that will be happening, the timeframe it’s likely to cover, and apologize ahead of time for the noise or any other inconveniences they are likely to experience.

The more upfront you are, the most understanding and flexible even the grumpiest of neighbors are likely to be.

5. How Do You Handle Additional Charges?
Once you’ve agreed on a price for the job, there is the risk of cost overruns due to unforeseen complications and changes to plans as construction progresses. Make it a point to discuss this ahead of time to find out the company’s policy for handling additional charges, and get it in writing.

6. How Do You Resolve Disagreements?
There is always the possibility that the homeowner and contractor will have a dispute, whether regarding the quality of the work, not meeting the completion deadline, or some other matter. We suggest bringing this up before you sign the contract for the job. The more open and honest the company is about dealing with past disputes, the more peace of mind you’ll have as they begin work.

7. What Is Your Timeline For Completion?
Once the contractor has given you a bid, they should be able to provide a timeline for each step of the project, and offer an expected completion date. A number of factors can impact this, such as any outstanding subcontracting bids, weather conditions, other projects currently underway, and changes to your construction plans.

8. How Can I Keep in Touch With You?
The contractor needs to provide you with a designated point of contact. Ask if they prefer contact through email, text, or on the phone. Get this information, and ask the timeframe that you can typically expect to hear back.

A good contractor will likely be busy with several projects at one, so be prepared to be patient, but it’s reasonable to expect a call back on the same day. Be wary of anyone who blows you off completely or tends to make you wait days at a time before offering any kind of response.

9. Do You Have a Certificate of Insurance?
Any reputable contractor should have both liability insurance and workers’ compensation. Simply asking a contracting company if they are insured isn’t enough information, you need to know how they are insured. Ask to see their certificate of insurance and read it closely.

10. What Is Your Payment Schedule?
Any homeowner looking to hire a contractor should be strongly advised to never pay in full upfront. And a reputable contractor would never ask you to do so. When paying up front you run the strong risk of them disappearing, or long delays in completion of your job.

Cc lalasticlala

©AsomArchitects2018

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Re: 10 Vital Questions To Ask A Contractor Before Hiring by Sunmolar(m): 10:39am On Dec 20, 2018
Good one.
How honest ? how discipline ? how professional ? how hardworking ? how skillfull are the employees? how much concerns he shows ?
The above will be of importance to the client at the end of the day.
Re: 10 Vital Questions To Ask A Contractor Before Hiring by abibun: 8:39am On Jan 09, 2019
plz, can the exact parafet in the picture be done here in Nigeria

Re: 10 Vital Questions To Ask A Contractor Before Hiring by Sunmolar(m): 10:04pm On Jan 10, 2019
abibun:
plz, can the exact parafet in the picture be done here in Nigeria

YES we can do it here in Nigeria
Re: 10 Vital Questions To Ask A Contractor Before Hiring by abibun: 8:23am On Jan 11, 2019
Sunmolar:


YES we can do it here in Nigeria
Thanks, like much do u think could cost to have it on a normal three bedroom flat in Nigeria
Re: 10 Vital Questions To Ask A Contractor Before Hiring by Sunmolar(m): 9:00am On Jan 11, 2019
abibun:
Thanks, like much do u think could cost to have it on a normal three bedroom flat in Nigeria

it depends. but up to 500k.

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