Selecting a Contractor | Interviewing a Contractor | Ask the Customer
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Ask the Customers

According to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, these are the questions that you need to ask your contractor's references*:

• Were you able to communicate with the contractor?
• Were you pleased with the quality of the contractor's work?
• Were you satisfied with the contractor's business practices?
• Did the contractor begin work on time?
• Was the job completed on schedule?
• Did the contractor fulfill all terms of your agreement?
• Did the contractor stay in touch throughout the project?
• Were the final details completed in a timely fashion?
• Would you use this contractor again without hesitation?

*The Master Plan for Professional Home Remodeling. National Association of the Remodeling Industry, 1995.

Do Your Homework
The Council of Better Business Bureaus offers these suggestions for checking out prospective contractors*:

• Find out if the contractor is a member of a professional association - such as the Chamber of Commerce, National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) or the National Association for Home Builders (NAHB) - that has standards or a code of ethics for members.
• Call your local Better Business Bureau or consumer affairs office to find out how long the contractor has been in business and whether or not any complaints have been filed against him.
• Check with your local housing authority (state, county or city) to see if the contractor is required to meet certain licensing or bonding criteria in your area and then make sure that he is in compliance.
• Request a copy of the contractor's certificate of insurance for workers' compensation, property damage and personal liability in case of accidents, and call the carrier to verify the information.

*Tips On...Home Improvement, The Council of Better Business Bureaus, Inc. 1997.

Trust Your Instincts
Finally, don't underestimate the power of personality. As you conduct your interviews, try to get a feel for how you might get along with each of your contractors. And trust your instincts! Keep in mind that, for the duration of your project, this could be the person that you will greet first thing in the morning and as you arrive home from work each night. He and his crew will be in your "space" for a large part of the day. The two of you must be able to communicate successfully with one another and deal appropriately with problems as the project goes along. It's worth your effort to get to know him!

Evaluating the Bid
As you evaluate bids from your prospective contractors, you might want to consider the findings of a Consumer Reports study on home improvements. In a survey of nearly 12,000 homeowners that obtained multiple estimates, the 40% that accepted the lowest bid were less satisfied overall with their projects than those who were willing to pay more for the job*. Make sure that your final choice of a contractor is based on the "sum of all parts" - including professionalism, an understanding of your vision for the project, and a compatible personality - instead of on a single factor such as price.

* "Remodeling Without the Hassle," Consumer Reports, 1997.

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