Hiring a Contractor: Questions to ask a contractor before starting your remodeling project in Houston
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Making the choice to renovate and update your home can not only increase its value, but also add to your day-to-day enjoyment. After all, your home is an extremely precious asset. So deciding on the best contractor for your remodeling needs takes time, and can often be the difference between a positive and negative renovation project.
What are some of the most important questions to ask a potential general contractor before hiring? We want to help you navigate this process, so here are some of the top questions we suggest asking Houston-based contractors during the hiring process.
“Are you insured?”
We believe this is one of the most important questions you need to ask when hiring a contractor. Yes, it’s a basic question, but you’d be surprised how often it gets overlooked. Don’t make the mistake of assuming a Houston-based general contractor is insured. We highly suggest asking upfront and if at all in doubt, request to see proof.
“Can you provide references?”
Just like in a job interview, don’t be afraid to ask your potential contractor for references from clients or vendors. Word of mouth is extremely powerful, and a great general contractor will be able to produce a list of clients or vendors they’ve worked with who can vouch for their professionalism and skill set. A good contractor shouldn’t give you the run around on references, they should want to provide you with contacts that can speak to their work.
On the topic of references, be sure to also check Google Reviews (see a snapshot of ALE Renovations Google Reviews above), Thumbtack or Houzz for customer reviews on the remodeling business and their work.
“How long have you been in business?”
We suggest this be one of the first questions you ask a potential general contractor. An experienced home remodeling company is more likely to have an established reputation, a strong network of suppliers and trade partners, along with skills and experience that several years of being in the business provides.
Above all else, a general contractor who has been in business for a number of years, is more likely to have a stake in upholding their established reputation, meaning they’ll be more likely to do whatever it takes to ensure you’ll also be counted as a satisfied client.
Houston-based ALE Renovations is a family-owned and operated business since 1980. We have been doing bathroom remodels, kitchen renovations and other home projects in many Houston neighborhoods including inside the loop, around the Memorial-area, Bellaire, the Houston Heights and more.
“How do you approach job site management?”
Make sure to get clarification on whom will be managing your project. Is there a project manager or a construction foreman who will be overseeing the project on a daily basis and keeping everyone on track?
A follow-up question to ask would also be what sort of things are done for site clean-up daily and at the completion of the project? Does the general contractor provide a full and thorough cleaning of the workspace at the completion of the job? What about on a daily basis? Will the project area be cleaned up and tools put away at the end of each work day? Establishing expectations ahead of starting your home project can go a long way towards keeping all parties happy.
“How do you communicate with clients?”
A home remodeling project can be extremely stressful, and questions may come up that need answering. A client should be able to get answers to their questions in a timely manner. A general contractor who can respond to your inquiries and questions within 24 hours or less, even if their initial response requires a follow-up, is a contractor worth considering.
“Is the quote provided an estimate or a fixed price?”
We highly suggest clarifying upfront whether the remodeling company you choose to work with treats their quote as an estimate or as a fixed price. An estimate can simply be an educated guess or a jumping off point. Meaning, the final tally on your project cost could be much higher than the initial estimated number.
ALE Renovations provides project quotes with a fixed price. This does require additional legwork to naildown project specifics, but it prevents any surprises when it comes to monetary expenditures. Any “unforeseen circumstances” such as a hidden plumbing pipe in the wall to be demo’ed, will be listed in the quote and a change order will be submitted to the client for approval.
A good remodeling company will be more than happy to provide specifics when it comes to a project quote. ALE Renovations also lists out itemized specifics such as:
Demolition and trash removal
Carpentry
Electrical
Drywall and painting
HVAC
Plumbing
Tiling and floor coverings
If a general contractor pushes back or is evasive in their response to itemizing costs or providing a specific itemized quote, it could be a strong sign that the pricing could fluctuate later or they’re not as trustworthy as hoped.
Work with ALE Renovations
At ALE Renovations, we realize how difficult it can be to find a trustworthy contractor, who can get the job done right and stick to a budget. We’ve evolved a work process based around a strong foundation of trust and transparency that allows for our clients to trust us to complete the work.
We strive to be clear on expectations on the outset and also provide itemized AND transparent pricing, in which every penny is accounted for.
Lastly, we’re on-site every single day with the trade partners we’ve established strong working relationships with, so as to best ensure that your project is done properly, from start to finish.
Enjoy a stress-free remodeling experience. Contact ALE Renovations, in Houston, Texas, today to get started on your kitchen remodel, bathroom update or other home remodeling project.
