How to choose a home remodeling contractor Dubai
Remodeling is a big task that can change the structure, layout and style of your home. When you choose a contractor, you’re hiring a new employee for a job. You wouldn’t hire the first applicant for a job at your business, so don’t choose your home improvement contractor without narrowing down the best candidates.
Examine portfolios of previous work, check licensing, listen to referrals and gather competitive bids before you make a final decision.
Step 1: Get recommendations
The first step in finding the right home improvement contractor is to create a list of 10 to 15 local contractors who have the right expertise. You’ll gradually narrow down this list to the top contenders and ultimately use it to select your contractor, so it’s best to include more names than you need at this point.
There are several ways you can compile your starter list:
- Ask your homeowner friends for recommendations, especially those who have recently had renovations.
- Search online for the type of service you need in your area.
- Check out client reviews.
- Use social media to ask friends or followers for local referrals.
Red flags
Successful contractors will make it easy for you to get in touch with them and see examples of their work. Be cautious of home improvement contractors who don’t have basic information and resources available, such as a website, a social media presence and reviews.
Step 2: Compare each contractor’s portfolio
Choose a contractor who specializes in the type of remodel you need — someone who specializes in remodeling kitchens might not be ideal for your bathroom renovation. A home improvement contractor with a creative eye can also be helpful for certain projects. For instance, if you want to lay a tile entryway with a detailed mosaic or paint a room with a faux finish, you’ll need a contractor who does that type of work well.
To ensure your style is being incorporated appropriately into your contractor’s work and up to par, ask each contractor on your list for a portfolio of their projects from at least the last year. They may have a physical portfolio, or they may direct you to a website with images.
A good portfolio should contain at least ten projects. It should include photos of each space before work began, during the remodel and after project completion. It helps if there are pictures of blueprints, sketches or other plans so you can get an idea of how the contractor approaches a project.
Red flags
Look out for portfolios with too few projects, no photos before the remodel or grainy images of the final product. Keep in mind that home improvement contractors only include their best work in their portfolios. If any completed project is not up to your standards, it’s likely their average work is even worse. Take that person’s name off your list.
Step 3: Ask for licensing and certification
One easy way to narrow your list down further is to ask for each contractors’ licensing and certification. The specific licenses or certifications your home improvement contractor should carry will depend on the project and where you live. Legal requirements for contractors vary by state, so call the licensing division of your local government to ask for specific requirements.
In addition to making sure contractors have the correct licenses and certification to complete the job safely and legally, make sure anyone on your list has liability insurance in case they damage your home. The contractor and any other workers should also be covered by worker’s compensation. Ask for a copy of their insurance policies and check that they’re up to date.
Red flags
Cross any contractors off your list who can’t show the right credentials, including those who are hesitant or take too long to get this information to you.
Step 4: Check references
It’s time to start checking references. A typical contractor reference list includes 10 or more jobs with the name, address and telephone number of each customer. Be sure to ask for a combination of their most recent jobs, a couple of older references and work from various neighborhoods. It helps if there are dates for each job; if dates aren’t on the list, ask for them.
Now it’s time to call each reference. Keep detailed notes during your phone call; you’ll need to ask some references if you can visit their home to see the project in person.
Some questions to ask include:
- Did the contractor complete the project on time?
- Was the job site kept neat?
- Were problems addressed promptly?
- Was the contractor punctual for appointments and workdays?
- What kind of hours did the crew work?
- How has the work held up?
- Did the contractor stay within your budget expectations?
Some red flags include too few references or significant time gaps between references. Ask about these before assuming the worst. A hole in the calendar doesn’t necessarily mean trouble; maybe they were injured or taking time off. The contractor’s openness and willingness to give you more information can help ease your mind.
If a client had a good experience overall, they’ll be positive and upbeat about the contractor even if there were some small problems. If the experience wasn’t good, you might notice the person hesitating or answering indirectly. Try to read between the lines of what the person tells you; they may not want to say anything unkind. As you talk with each contractor’s references, eliminate any contractors that get bad or ambivalent reviews.
Step 5: Review an example of a finished project
After you’ve called your contractors’ references, cross out any contractors who received poor reviews. Then decide which of the remaining references to visit in person to see their contractor’s completed project. Choose people who seem open and forthcoming and whose projects are similar to yours.
It’s particularly helpful if the work was completed at least a few years ago so you can see how it has held up. Visit at least one finished project from each of your remaining top contenders.
As you visit the projects, take a close look at the contractor’s work. Ask the homeowner if it has ever needed servicing or repairs. Check out the overall feel and the specific details.
Red flags
Depending on the type of project, there are a few red flags to look for:
- Bathroom remodels: Dark stains on the walls or ceiling, slanted floors, cheap materials, insufficient lighting.
- Kitchen remodels: Obvious seams on countertop, cheap materials, “kitchen triangle” (stove, refrigerator and sink) not logically laid out, poor lighting, inadequate storage or counter space.
- Paint: Overspray, paint runs, streaks, imperfect lines and edges, paint splatter on the floor.
- Tile work: Crooked tiles or lines, tile or grout cracking, excess grout or caulking along edges (meant to disguise poorly cut tiles), inconsistent grout lines, uneven surfaces, obvious transitions between surfaces.
- Decks, patios or pergolas: Wavy or swollen boards, mismatched edges, gaps between boards or windows, cracks in the floorboards, cracks or separation between the side of the house and the deck, concrete cracks.
Step 6: Get bids for the job and hire a contractor
By now, you’ve eliminated anyone from your list who does subpar work. The next step is to price the job with all of the remaining contractors on your list.
After a thorough consultation, each contractor will present you with a brief proposal and estimated cost for the project, called a bid. Depending on the type of renovation, this might include details on the timeline for the project, the types of materials they recommend and the total cost of the project.
It’s best to get bids from the top three or four contractors on your list. You will select your contractor from among these bids.
The lowest bid doesn’t always come from the best contractor for you. Consider reliability, flexibility and their portfolio, too.
Remember, it’s not always best to go with the lowest price. Sometimes the materials or amount of work will differ from one contractor to another; for instance, a contractor who uses prefabricated cabinets will charge much less than a woodworker who makes them by hand, but you’ll notice a major difference in the look and feel of the finished kitchen. Think about your overall goals for your renovation when choosing which proposal is best for you.
Red flags
Be wary of any contractor who tries to pressure you into accepting a bid. Some contractors will try to pressure you into signing right away by saying their bids are only good for a limited time, but you should have the option to think about the bid for a few days or longer.
Quality contractors will let you take your time deciding which bid to choose, and they’ll act graciously if you decline their bid. The same is true of the final contract — be sure to review all of the details, and don’t sign anything right away.
Bottom line
It’s up to you to do your homework to find a skilled and ethical contractor for your home improvement project. Research each contractor thoroughly, and feel free to take your time to make the best decision for your home. After you’ve reviewed and signed the contract proposal, you’ll write a deposit check. Now you’re one step closer to your dream home.