Here are 10 tips for selecting a general contractor or construction manager for your project:
1. Ask friends and neighbors for referrals. Ask them how their referral handled surprises or unforeseen conditions. Ask them if they stayed on schedule and on budget. If not, ask them how they handled that.
2. Drive around your neighborhood and look for construction projects. Knock on the door and ask about the contractor. If they give a positive reference in the middle of a project, chances are good that the contractor is honest and reliable.
3. Ask for proof of license and insurance coverage before allowing them to bid on your project. In Westchester County, you can check online at Westchestergov.com.
4. Invite three bidders to submit proposals. Not two. Not four. Too few, and you will not have an adequate basis of comparison. Too many, and you will lose your best bidders. If the chances of a contractor winning the project becomes too small, the incentive to invest their time in preparing a proposal becomes less apealing to contractors in high demand.
5. Ask for five references. Every contractor can find three people to say nice things about them. Ask for a minimum of five references and you may learn a lot more about them.
6. Perform a personality check. Make sure your personality works well with your bidders. Spend some time with them before you invite them to bid. A residential construction project is a very personal thing. These people will be in your house and around your family. You might even be eating breakfast with them. Confirm that you like them as people. If you don’t “feel right” about someone, follow your intuition and pass on them.
7. Contact the Better Business Bureau and check for complaints.
8. Check their credit. Order a credit report for their company and check their financial stability. Make sure your project is not going to pay off the last one.
9. Ask the contractor how many projects they work on at one time. This will vary depending on the number of crews they have working.
10. Is the owner of the company swinging a hammer? Smaller contracting companies are usually owned by the guy doing the work. Larger companies hire project managers. Each project scope dictates how the project is managed, but it’s good to find out who will be in charge of your project before signing a contract.
For more information on selecting and hiring home improvement contractors in Westchester County, check out the Westchester County Department of Consumer Protection website.
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