Choosing a
right construction contractor is one of the most important facets of building a
house. Hence, consider the following tips meticulously when choosing a right
construction contractor.
Ask for
referrals: Ask your industrial friends and peers if they know any construction
contractor, the services of which they have recently used. Surf on the internet
and go through the phone book as well to find a list of construction
contractors in your area.
Collect
recommendations: Read the reviews of the clients on the websites of the
contractors to get an idea of their past experience. If possible, contact these
clients directly to get an in-depth insight of the contractors.
Quotes and
estimates: Call these contractors and collect terms and estimates. Review the
estimates closely and evaluate them to determine the best deal. Do not choose
the contractor that offers you the highest quote. Remember that the highest
estimate does not guarantee excellent services. A good contractor should always
provide you with proper justification for the charges they offer.
Meet in
person: Before you zeroing in upon a contractor, it is advisable to meet him in
person. If possible, show him the site of your house project. Seeing the site
will help the contractor planning a perfect layout of your house. This will
also enable him to quote you a more accurate estimate.
Check the
background: Check the background of the company to ensure that there is no
major consumer complaint filed against him. To check the credibility, you can
also visit the local office of the contractor in your area.
Qualifications
and/or certifications: Make sure that the contractor you choose has good
experience in this field. He should be well qualified and should hold all the
certifications required to become a contractor. Remember that a knowledgeable
contractor can always help you build your dream house with ultimate commitment,
skills and/or expertise.
Tools and
equipments: Ensure that the contractor is well-equipped and possess all the
modern tools and equipments recently used in construction. Find out whether the
contractor has latest forms of pipebending machines, updated mechanically powered hammers, like jack hammer,
steam hammers, and trip hammer, modern drilling machines for drilling holes and
many more. If possible, ask the contractor to show you the tools that they will
be using in construction. Ensure that these and equipments are clean and
well-maintained.
Check
the legalities: Apart from just checking the track records, you must also check
for the valid licenses and work permits. Also, ensure that the contractor you
choose is insured. If possible, ask for a copy of insurance policy from the
contractor. However, if the contractor is reluctant to talk about the insurance
policy, look for another one.
Read
the contractor: Make sure that you get all the terms and conditions in writing.
Read the contract carefully and make sure that it contains all the important
points like estimates, terms and conditions, and start and end date of the
project. If you do not understand any of the points included, contact the
contractors immediately.
Author Bio:
David Petersen is a renowned author, who has written many articles on building
construction tips, tips to choose a construction contractor, tools used in
construction, viz. Internal pneumaticline up clamps, roller cradles and
many others.