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The excitement that comes with moving into a new home is unparalleled. The opportunity to make your mark on your new space is one of the greatest feelings in life. If this is your first home, and you are now in the process of getting the right contractors on board, you may find that it’s one of the most frustrating processes, either because you can’t find the right one for your needs or you can get a contractor but they are so shoddy in their workmanship you’ve got to hire someone else to get it started all over again. With this in mind, here are some of the biggest mistakes people make when they hire a contractor.
Selecting the Cheapest Contractor
Before you settle on kitchen remodelers or roofing contractors, it is important to address the cost in relation to their services. You should compare costs between one contractor and the next as this gives you an understanding of why they are charging that amount. When you undertake a bit more research, you can get to know their level of experience, positive referrals, but also if they are insured. Going for the lowest paid is not always the best for your home. You need value for money, but as they say, if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys!
Not Checking Previous Customers
These days, you can find an abundance of reviews online through Yelp and other customer review sites, but it’s the perfect way to get a frame of reference before you hire a contractor. Of course, you need to find a customer that speaks highly about them, but it’s important to make sure you get that good feeling as well. Your preferred contractor might not get 100% glowing reviews, but if they had one bad review, you need to find out more about this. It could be more to do with the customer than the contractor!
Signing Incomplete Paperwork
When hiring a home improvement contractor, you need to have a solid contract that highlights their duties and the terms of their service. As boring as this part is, you have to check any agreement on paper because this will save you a lot of headaches. If there are no terms of service, do not sign it. If you do and they do not complete the work to your standard, it could be challenging to resolve any problems once work is underway.
Ignoring Building Codes
Every time you make an alteration to a property, you need a building permit. This guarantees you comply with safety and zoning laws. But you need to check the contractor’s license and permit to make sure it is currently in operation. If you work with an unlicensed contractor, this could land you in hot water, either by having to pay a fine or having all of your beautiful building work ripped down!
Not Looking for the Long-Term Benefits
We can make the mistake of focusing on what we need right now. But you’ve got to pick a contractor that can provide functionality long after the project is completed. You may want a sink in a certain location and have your heart set on it, but if your home’s plumbing doesn’t allow it and you get into an argument with the plumber that you win, you may end up having to rip the project out and start again, or there could be perilous plumbing problems.
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