By Alexis Grace
If you’re a homeowner, remodelling your home is one of those things you can’t run away from forever. Replacing broken faucets, broken pipes, repainting walls and replacing doors are some of the most important things you will likely have to do.
The catch is that home remodeling is difficult and tiring. Most times, you’ll need to consult a professional so they can either take over from you or advice you on what to do. But how can you tell whether or not they are worth their salt? Here are a few things you should be on the lookout for.
Certification
Before anything else, the most important thing to consider when it comes to picking a home contractor is their certification. Different states have different requirements around the issue, but home remodelling always needs a permit, license or other form of approval from your local government.
Certification is important because it’s proof the person in question has attained the necessary requirements for the profession. It shows they are knowledgeable about issues such as safety and they can he held accountable in case anything goes wrong.
Experience
A good home renovation professional should have a lot of experience. You probably want someone with 5+ years of experience, but depending on your budget and who’s available, you can shoot it down to 3+.
Experienced professionals are better able to respond to any questions you might have, more certain about time approximations and will generally do a better job than newbies. You certainly don’t want someone experimenting with their first job on your home. Before you hire a contractor, make sure you’ve thoroughly reviewed their portfolio
Affordability
Just because they have 10+ years of experience in the field does not mean they get to charge you through your nose for the service. A good home remodeling contractor should not only be competent at their job, they should also have reasonable prices.
Unless they are the only contractor for miles, don’t pay more than you have to. Experience doesn’t always equal skill, and even so, if you can get someone to do the job at a cheaper price, go for it.
Project timeline
The final thing you should be on the lookout for in a contractor is how long it takes to finish the project. Someone that drags it out for too long is inevitably going to cost you a lot more. Not to mention the fact that it’s just inconvenient having them around for too long.
Just keep in mind that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
