One of the main questions you need to ask contractors before hiring is if they have an active license, if they are bonded, insured. Do they have employees and if so, do they carry workers compensation. Other important questions are if they will be performing all the work or if there will be subcontractors performing the work. In regards to type of work that will be performed ask about approximate time frame to complete the project. What kind of materials shall be used, as the materials selection can affect the cost considerably. You want to ask how many years of experience do they have, and how long have they been in business. Also ask to see pictures of previous work, and at least three references of past customers. Some of the key elements in selecting a contractor is to hire someone who is trustworthy, knowledgeable, reasonable, courteous, therefore good communication is a must between both parties. How soon does contractor returns call. The more you know about the contractor the easier it shall be to hire the right one
One of the main question the customer should ask the contractor is if they are insured.They need to make sure that if the contractor’s team breaks something in the property during the installation they will be responsible for any damages
REFERENCES, REFERENCES, REFERENCES!!! If you are contemplating a home project ask your friends if they know of or better yet, have worked with a remodeling contractor that they would recommend. (If commercial, work with your architect to establish qualification criteria and / or have your architect provide a list of quality contractors they have worked with in recent past.) Once you have a contractor that comes recommended by someone you trust:
- Verify they are licensed to work in your location.
- Ask for proof of insurance and if you intend to contract with them INSIST that they provide you proof of insurance listing you as an “additional insured” on the policy. Verify the insurance has reasonable coverage that includes workers comp., general liability, and possibly builder’s risk.
- You should also insist that a contract be written and agreed to before any work starts. Never proceed on a handshake or verbal agreement. The more detailed the contract the better protected both you and the contractor are for the unforeseeable.
Ask for their license and if they have insurance. Also ask how long they have been doing their trade. Get some customer references and call them. The contractor should be very knowledgeable about what he says he is doing. Ask some questions in which you already know the answer, just to see if he really knows.
Prior to interviewing your contractor, look them up online to make sure that they are licensed, bonded and insured.
Questions to ask are:
*How long have they been in business and what do they specialize in?
*How can they assist you with your project?
*Can they point to similar projects completed? Provide references?
*Why should you hire them over other companies?
*Ask about progress, timing, anticipated completion date.
*What are the areas of the work which are unclear now and may pose extra work orders?
*How are work change orders being calculated and handled?
*In case of a room addition, ask all you can about your foundation, frame, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, stucco/siding, insulation, drywall, windows and doors, floorings, moldings and casings, painting, roofing and gutters.
Make a list.
In addition to the many good points made previously, I would ask for a contract template. This will give you a lot of insight into how they plan on structuring the costs, payments, schedule, etc for the project. Especially pay attention to “change orders”, which are changes to the original scope of work. Many projects will have changes, and these can be hard for owners to swallow if they’re not prepared. This would also give you a view into how organized they are as a company, and a good contract would give you the information to answer things like whether they are licensed, bonded, and insured.
It’s important to have a good working relationship with your contractor, especially for projects with a longer duration. Have many conversations with them about their aesthetic and recently completed work, what obstacles they’ve experienced with work like yours and how they overcame it.
In addition to pictures of previous projects, ask if you can see in person any work they have done. You can make anything look good on a computer screen, but interacting with it in real life could be a different story.
Aside from the due diligence on the license, insurance, bond and workers compensation, a clients hould Ask for references from previous works. A professional contractor with a very good track record will always have a long list of satisfied clients who are always willing to help them and give them good word about their work.
Licensing and Insurance are a must in Florida, having checked that you’re half way there, then I would check several references and visit some of the current and past work that is related to your project before making a decision