Any tips or tricks on finding a reputable builder? We had a family member trust a contractor to remodel their kitchen and he not only didn't finish the job but, would not refund their money. We don't want this to happen to us, so how can we go about choosing the right person?
Cheryl,
You have come to the right place!
I am going to give you a time tested list of things you should do before hiring a contractor and a list of things you should not do before hiring a contract. Do you see the irony here? I am a building contractor and yes, I am looking out for you, the homeowner. As the past president of Maselli Construction, a small business that specializes in Home Building and Remodeling, I have decided to use this forum as a place in which you can get help is all aspects of building and remodeling, and that includes helping you prevent some of the pitfalls of hiring a contractor. I previously wrote about this in my blog, LevelAdvice.com and it has been included here in Showroom411.com.
I am going to give you two lists which I have put together using information I have collected over the years from newspaper articles, building organizations, the BBB and other reliable sources. I found by putting these things into practice, my clients had a sense of relief that they were not going to have a "contractor nightmare."
To read the first list click on the following text:
Ten Things You Should Do Before Hiring A Contractor
Well, that's about it. I do believe if you follow the advice in these two lists, you should be able to narrow down your choices and find a contractor that you can depend on.
To read the second list click on the following text:
Five Things You Should Not Do Before Hiring A Contractor
I hope this helps.
Rick Maselli Founder of Showroom411.com