Common Questions for Your General Contractor

It is very important to find the right contractor for your remodel. That is why, when you start the search, you must know the right general contractor questions in Syracuse, IN to ask as you screen potential candidates. The answers ensure experience, attention to detail, adequate insurance and financial compensation if anything goes wrong. Here are six questions to ask any prospective contractor:

• License number: Only licensed contractors are allowed to do business in the state of Indiana. By securing the license number, you can confirm their registration is current and whether they’ve faced any claims or judgments. You can also see if they’ve performed business under different names.
• Other business names: Business name changes may merely be about changing times. New ownership often leads to business name changes, as well as new specialties. However, if a contractor shows they had a previous business name but fails to be upfront about it, it is likely due to shady practices and work quality claims. Beware if other business names are treated as government secrets.
• Insurance information: Unless a contractor is adequately insured, any injuries sustained during your project are covered by your homeowner’s policy. The same is true for structural accidents and other unwelcome developments. Even if the contractor has coverage, make sure it is enough to cover your type of project and property.
• Cost: Obtain all estimates in writing—never accept a contract on a verbal agreement. Estimates should also be detailed and contain all project elements. Do not hire contractors who are not forthcoming about time and materials and fail to offer a written estimate.
• Experience: Ask directly how many projects like yours the contractor completed in the last year. Those who focus mainly on commercial construction are likely not the best choices for your full kitchen and bathroom remodeling projects. Some experience will be indirect. For example, hiring a custom home builder for your bathroom remodel is acceptable because it is likely that the home builder has also completed many bathrooms. Meeting a contractor is essentially a job interview, so they should be willing to address these questions. If they are not, consider moving on.
• Contact information: You want mobile numbers, but also office locations. Contractors with a central office and landline phones are likely more established than those who operate only on cell phones and a trailer. After all, something could go wrong years later, and you’ll need to know how to contact them, especially if a warranty is involved. While employees may move on, the central business office remains as a point of contact (if they have one). However, if the contractor only offers a P.O. Box and a cell number to contact them, that is a warning sign. While they could be just starting out, it also means they may be ready to run if anything goes wrong.

Buhrt Builders Inc. is a family-owned contracting business that will welcome any general contractor questions in Syracuse, IN that you wish to ask. Contact us today to schedule an estimate and see if we are the right fit for your custom home or remodel.

Categorised in: General Contractor

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