Finding a contractor can be difficult and troublesome if you take this matter without a proper approach. So, let’s go from the opposite and determine what mistakes are most often made by customers when choosing a contractor to protect those who are just going to make home repairs.
What You Shouldn’t Do When Want to Find Best Contractors Near Me
Here are the most common mistakes when finding a contractor:
1. Saving on quality
To the question of what causes the most misunderstanding between the contractor and the customer during the repair, 56% of the respondents say that the main problems arise as a result of the customer’s misunderstanding of the technological process, and 44% say that the main mistake is the customer’s desire to save on work or materials.
In this regard, at the initial stage, the customer must choose a professional construction team that can not only correctly explain why certain solutions are needed but also advise on what materials/work it is possible to save, and where to do it categorically not acceptable.
2. Neglecting to conclude a timely agreement
It is necessary to conclude a detailed contract before starting all repairs to find a contractor. Firstly, this will allow at the initial stage to determine the exact cost of all work and terms, and secondly, it will protect the customer or the construction team in case of non-compliance with the agreements of one of the parties.
The contract should include a detailed work plan indicating the delivery time for all necessary materials, approval of each stage by the customer, as well as a detailed estimate of all necessary materials and repair services. It is necessary to clearly understand what conditions the customer is required to provide under the contract for the quality of work. Particular attention should be paid to the guarantees that the team gives, namely: what kind of work the guarantee extends to and for how long.
3. Forgetting about the detailed work plan
Firstly, before the start of repairs or construction, it is worthwhile to draw up a preliminary plan of all work, indicating the cost of work and materials, as well as the delivery time – this will allow you to calculate the cost of repair in advance and, if necessary, reduce some costs when finding a contractor. Timely delivery of the necessary materials will ensure the consistent work of the team, and, therefore, will reduce the time to work to a minimum and you will not have to overpay the workers for waiting.
Secondly, immediately establish the payment procedure. It is most advisable to do it in stages. A large prepayment often becomes the very loan that spoils the relationship. In addition, it “ties” the customer to the team – regardless of whether he/she likes the result or not. Therefore, it is better to pay upon completion of the work, it is possible to do it after each stage: monthly or weekly.
Thirdly, it is necessary to register a list of all necessary materials and services with an indication of the cost to find the best contractor. If the collected estimate is not affordable, there are a number of ways that can help reduce the cost of repairs.
Absolutely, you cannot save on “structural” solutions. It is strongly not recommended to use low-quality water pipes and fittings, electrical wiring, adhesives, and grouts for laying tiles, stucco mixtures and mixes for leveling the floor, etc., this can lead to the fact that later you will have to redo the repair again and overpay 2-3 times.
4. Neglecting the design project
Of course, in cases where repairs are limited to redecorating, there is no need for a design project but if it comes to overhaul and redevelopment, then the design project can play a very important role.
The design project is important as it is coordination between the construction team and the designer before starting the repair. It often happens like this: the customer is satisfied with the design project and waits at the final stage for the picture that the designer showed him, and during the repair, it turns out that the design solution is contrary to construction technologies or capabilities. When finding a contractor pay attention to this aspect.
5. Not paying attention to the rough finish
Contractors note that the negative consequences of poorly executed waterproofing or improperly laid tiles appear only after some time, but can lead to a new repair. Therefore, you need to carefully monitor the work on rough finishing.
Pay particular attention to:
- plumbing and electrical work;
- the quality of leveling floor screeds;
- waterproofing and insulation work.
It is better to trust the choice of materials for rough finishing to contractors who have experience working with specific brands. But the materials for the fine finish (paint, wallpaper, tile, flooring) are advised to choose independently or together with the designer. How to find a contractor for home renovations? Use specialized platforms with a good reputation.
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