What to Consider When Hiring a Contractor

Trying to hire the right contractor to work on your home can sometimes be a daunting task. As a homeowner, if you don’t hire someone with the right qualifications, you can put yourself at risk. Before you hire a contractor, make sure you have completely researched him/her and his/her company.

Here are some important credentials to check out before signing the contract:

1. Make sure the contractor has a license. Hiring an uninsured contractor can potentially cause problems and risks.
   1. Get the license number, name of contractor, name of company, phone number, and address so that you can confirm legitimacy of the company.
   2. Call the Contractors State License Board and BBB to check for any complaints, and past or pending lawsuits.
2. Ask the contractor to provide client references, as well as supplier references so that you can check him out.
3. Make sure the contractor will obtain the necessary permits before starting the job so that you don’t have to be concerned with doing it yourself.
4. Find out if the contractor/company is insured for Workers Compensation and General Liability. Make sure the subcontractors are also insured; otherwise you may be liable if there are any injuries on your property.
5. Ask the contractor to provide a complete fixed price contract with start and end dates, and accurate design drawings so that everything that is agreed upon is clearly stated and in one place.
6. Find out what the warranty policy is.
7. Find out what the policy is for changes that need to be made, but is already defined in the contract.
8. Make sure there is a No Smoking, No Drinking, and No Drug policy on the job.
9. Confirm that the job site will be cleaned up at the end of each day to ensure safety and orderliness.
10. Make sure the contractor is someone you will be comfortable with having yourself and/or your children around.

Shopping for contractors takes time and effort, but is a necessary duty. You will be glad you did it when everything goes smoothly and efficiently, and you can enjoy the results of a job well done.

For over 34 years, McBride Construction Inc. has provided superior quality construction and remodeling service in Northern Michigan. We have succeeded in consistently delivering a first-class product and our reward is that our clients return for generations and refer their discerning friends. Contact us about your remodeling project today!