Homes for Sale in Warner Robins Georgia 31088
Warning Signs a Contractor May Not Be The One
Warning Signs a Contractor May Not Be The One
You have been watching HGTV, saving your pennies, and dreaming of transforming your space into exactly what you want. With this project in mind, you have polled your friends, neighbors, and co-workers for names of good, reliable contractors in your area. Now that you have some names, let’s step through the process of finding a good one. Paying close attention upfront can pay dividends later.
First, your mission is to contact these folks and setup appointment times to get estimates. This is your initial point of contact with these people, and it can tell you a lot. First, did they take your phone call in a professional manner, stating their own name or their company name?
If they missed your call and you left a message, was it returned promptly? It is understandable that sometimes they maybe working in a noisy place, but what you are looking for is their ability to communicate effectively. If they are great at hammering nails, but not so good at communicating, this can become extremely frustrating later on in the process.
Prior to their arrival, it’s a good idea to narrow down the scope of work for your project. As an agent, I am often involved in these meetings, and what I typically observe is a homeowner revealing their seemingly endless wishlist. Though we all have those, it will be easier and less confusing for the contractor to give you an accurate bid if you stay on task.
For example, if you are planning on remodeling your kitchen, it isn’t necessary to discuss that you would like new tile in your entryway. It might even be a good idea to type up a list of items you would like to address. This will serve two purposes. First, it can serve as an agenda for your meeting, and second, it will ensure that all your bids are comparing apples to apples.
So now the contractor is in your home. What is it like to have him in your home? If you choose to work with him, he will be there a lot, so this is important. If his cologne is bothering you, he is very loud or seems unorganized, take those things to heart.
Is he measuring things, making notes, asking questions? He should be, so if he’s not, that’s a warning sign. Can you tell if he does the work himself or mostly has subcontractors do things? Ask his level of experience with various things. This is essentially his audition, so he should be trying to impress you. Finally, when should you expect the estimate?
Sadly, one or two of the contractors you speak with will likely never get their act together to give you a real bid. Though it seems strange, it happens all the time. They may get you a handwritten ‘rough’ idea, but without sitting down and going through each and every aspect of your project, they could easily miss things. We have all heard the ‘it cost double what we thought it would’ nightmares, and I believe those things happen because the initial bid was not well thought out.
By this time, you have been in contact with several contractors over several weeks. Trust your instincts. Also, do not let yourself be fooled by the lowest price in the beginning. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. The contractor you want to work with will be prompt and timely, and will have put in the effort necessary to give you an accurate bid upfront. Pay attention to how they conduct themselves from the first phone call to the delivery of the bid. A good contractor knows that they need to earn your trust and should be willing to work for it!
About the author: Kimberley Kelly is a Realtor helping buyers find real estate Palm Desert and La Quinta real estate. For more information about Kim you can visit her website at http://kimberleyjoykelly.com/
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