Congratulations, you have selected a contractor for your
project! Now what? Well, there are some details that are
important to know in this next phase.
Here are some questions and things to ask and consider:
1.
What is your budget?
Contractors generally tie their
costs and expenses to the materials and features selected, labor costs, timeframes,
also known as deadlines and the level of quality you expect. You should be up front and candid about these
so that your budget remains within what you can afford to get your project
done. Also plan on a contingency fund of 10-15% to cover unforeseen expenses.
2.
What features of the project is primary,
secondary and just wishful thinking?
Remember, there is a fine line or
rather The Continental Divide between what you want and what you can
afford. Be practical when figuring out
what you really need and can swing financially done versus what you would like
yet is way out of your budget. Both you
and the contractor will be happier in the long run. Remember something can
always be added at a later time when the funds become available.
3.
What can or should I expect with a bid proposal?
In the cases of contractor
proposals, brevity is not a virtue. A
professional and responsible contractor will include all of the details with
the actual steps needed to be taken in a bid.
Further, the responsibilities of all parties involved (the home owner,
contractor and subs) need to be clearly defined in writing. And, the necessary prevention steps to
protect your home from any dust or other unforeseen damage should be included
in the bid.
4.
How many
bids should I get and which bid do I chose?
If you have worked with the
contractor before or have experienced their work one bid may suffice. Otherwise, my recommendation is getting a maximum
of four bids on larger projects. One bid
will be a goofball who really isn’t interested in the project. There is usually a significantly higher bid
as well as an extremely lower bid with other bids somewhere in the middle.
Those contractors with little interest in your project will often bid higher
just to cover their costs and see if anyone “bites.” Low bidders are often appealing to
cost-conscious clients who may not be aware that the contractor has left out
certain features or will recoup his profits with substituting sub-standard
products and labor, leading to excessive and expensive change orders when the
client is up against the wall during the construction phase.
What you need to look for are
those bids from quality, competent contractors.
If you have done your research on which they are, you should know that
they are reputable and their bids should be within the ballpark of the others.
Smaller contractors are usually in better control of job costs and will produce
a fairer bid without the costs of higher overhead and profit margins.
What is their process for change orders? Changes are
inevitable. It is important to know how, when, at what cost and who is
responsible for the changes that need to be made.
By following these suggestions and asking some important
questions, your project will operate that much smoother and both you and the
contractor will know expectations, costs and timelines. Communication is the most valuable component
in any remodeling project.
© Architecturally Speaking 2012
