10 Tips for Working With a Contractor

This is the year you're going all out. You're going to build a deck, add a porch, erect a gazebo or lay a patio. You've done the research. It's well within your capability and you're looking forward to the satisfaction of creating a structure of beauty.

Or not. Yes -- you'd like to proceed with an outdoor structure but for you, it isn't a do-it-yourself project. How can you find the right person to do it for you? Here are 10 tips for hiring and working with a contractor.

1. Plan your project carefully. Clip pictures, make sketches, write a description. This will help you accurately convey to the contractor what you want the finished product to be.

2. Make a list of contractors. Ask your neighbors or friends for the names of reputable tradesmen. Contact material suppliers -- lumberyards, for example -- and ask for recommendations.

3. Get at least three written bids for the project, but don't give in to the temptation to automatically accept the lowest bid. A higher bid may be worth the price in better materials, workmanship and reliability. If you get a very low bid, the contractor may have made a mistake or forgotten to bid on everything you wanted. If they have deliberately low-bid, they may use cheaper materials or take shortcuts to make a profit.

4. Many states and provinces require registration and/or licensing. For the USA, www.nationalcontractors.com provides a starting point for your state and type of construction. Click on Verify Contractors License. If licences are required in your jurisdiction, be certain to ask to see your contractor's licences and be sure that it's not expired.

5. Ask for references and then check them out. Look at the projects and ask the previous clients if they are satisfied with the quality of work done, if it was started and completed on schedule and if it is complete.

6. Get a signed, written contract and be sure you understand it. The Construction Contractors Board of Oregon claims that the single biggest cause of homeowner-contractor disputes is the written contract: not having one, having a poor one, or having one everyone ignores. A good contract should include:

• The company name, address (not a post office box) & phone number, the name of the builder, contractor and licence number, if applicable

• A detailed project description

• A materials list

• A statement that all necessary permits and inspections are the responsibility of the contractor

• Starting and completion dates

• Warranties of workmanship, the length of the warranty, and specifically what's covered and what's not

• Contractor's guarantee that he carries liability insurance and worker's compensation coverage

• A statement that clean-up will be done by the contractor

• The total price and payment schedule

  • Be wary of hourly, time and materials or cost-plus pricing where the final price is not determined until completion of the project. Although it may seem higher, a fixed price may give you the best protection and price.

  • Be cautious about upfront payments for more than 15% of the contract price.

  • The schedule and criteria for each instalment should be clearly defined in the contract.

  • Any instalments should be not be required on a certain date, but correlated to work completion.

  • Do not pay cash. A reputable builder will ask for a check.

7. Make any changes to the project in writing with a "work order change" to avoid misunderstandings and surprises.

8. Keep pets and children away from the construction site. This will ensure not only their safety, but also that of the workers. In addition, it helps keep the project on schedule.

9. Inspect the work regularly.

10. Pay directly and promptly according to the contract.

Above all, you should feel comfortable communicating with your contractor. If you sense he is being evasive when you are getting a quote, it won't get any better during the construction period. Find someone you understand and who understands you, and who is open and forthright.

Working with a contractor takes a little preparation, but following these steps is well worth it. Are you looking forward to your new outdoor space?

About The Author

Debbie Rodgers owns and operates Paradise Porch, and is dedicated to helping people create outdoor living spaces that nurture and enrich them. Visit her on the web at www.paradiseporch.com and get a free report on "Eight easy ways to create privacy in your outdoor space". Mail to debbie@paradiseporch.com

---

Why Cant We Kill Too?

Why does big business have all the fun? We fix... Read More

Beautiful, Elegant Bathtubs that Spruce Up any Bathroom

Bathtubs have become an important necessity of our daily life... Read More

Do You Know How Important Your Air Conditioner Filter Is?

When most people think about an air conditioner filter, it... Read More

Bring Out the Comforters for Back to School

If the weather is turning chilly it must time for... Read More

Physiological Response to Window Coverings

Nothing soothes the brain like Mother Nature, whose intrinsic scenery... Read More

Plastic Applied to the Picnic Table?

There are many styles of picnic tables on the market,... Read More

Types of Table Saws

A table saw is one of the most popular pieces... Read More

Log Homes for Beginners - 10 Steps to Success

For those who may be thinking of building a new... Read More

Heat Up the Hot Tub from 20,000 Feet

Homeowners are getting high-tech when it comes to controlling the... Read More

Guide to Bathroom Design

The first step is to plan the design ? as... Read More

A Place For Everything And Everything In Its Place

Tax season is over...The spring holidays have passed... Hopefully by... Read More

Laminate Flooring is Built for the Twenty First Century

The tradition of hardwood floors dates back hundreds of years,... Read More

Electrical Safety and Power Tools

Power tools are one of the greatest conveniences for getting... Read More

Five Easy Ways to Give Your Kitchen Designer Wow!

A beautiful kitchen is the heart of any home (even... Read More

Seven Interior Design Psychology Ideas for Dining Pleasure

A separate dining room adds glamour, elegance, and excitement to... Read More

The Best Time to Inspect Your Home!

Home inspections conducted prior to a home being placed on... Read More

Where Did We Get Clocks From Anyway?

A clock is simply a device that measures time. Typical... Read More

House Plans ? Where To Start

You have found the perfect lot on which to build... Read More

The Benefits of Small Dehumidifiers

So it's too humid in your 10' X 10' bedroom.... Read More

Planning Permission Tips UK - Conservatories - Dispelling a Myth

It's now well into the new year and the residential... Read More

How Stained Glass Can Add Elegance To Your Home

If there is one way to throw a new light... Read More

Buy Area Rugs on the Web? What a Site!

After spending hundreds of dollars on your favorite Picasso print,... Read More

Your Candles Are Killing You and Your Furniture - Substitute It!

Even though most of the houses are well lighted with... Read More

Kitchen Remodeling Guide

A kitchen can make or ruin a family life. A... Read More

Non Slip Maintenance Of Honed Interior Marble

A honed finish is a satin surface with relatively little... Read More

Remove Ink Stains From Carpet

One of the best solvents you can use to remove... Read More

Vintage Labels on Marble Tiles

It's refreshing to note that gone are the days that... Read More

Getting the Power to Control

One of the advantages of using machines to control processes... Read More

Outdoor Decks - Understanding Seven Elements of Good Deck Design

You're all comfortable in your favorite lounge chair, reading your... Read More

The Wireless Home

It was only a few years ago that Real Estate... Read More

Art and Design

Maybe you've faced it before ? a new house with... Read More

The Mighty Dust Mite and How To Deal With It

A Closer Examination of the Dust MiteThe dust mite's mouth... Read More

Luxury Bedding is More Than Just Thread Count

Thread count is the most widely referred to term when... Read More