One of the most important parts of a successful home remodeling or renovation project is having a clear, detailed contract with your general contractor. It can make all the difference between a project you’ll be happy with for years to come and one that ends up costing you a lot of money and giving you a lot of trouble. A contract protects you, your money, and your property, so when you’re negotiating an agreement, make sure to think about the following:
Licensing
Make sure that your contractor has the right licenses to meet the requirements of your city and to do any specialized work, like electrical or plumbing. Ask that your contract include information and license numbers.
Insurance
Even though the contractor’s proof of insurance may not be attached to the contract, you can ask that the information about his or her insurance be written in the contract. Find out how much liability insurance is needed in your area, and make sure that any contractor you hire has that amount.
Scheduling
On a home remodeling job, one of the most common reasons why things go wrong is that the schedule isn’t planned out well. Even though you might not be able to avoid delays caused by the weather or lack of materials, and even though small delays are almost certain to happen, your contract should still include details about the schedule. The expected end date and important steps along the way are important dates to include.
What will be done
Having a clear picture of what needs to be done will help you keep track of both time and money. Work details could be a short or long list, depending on what your project is. The work for a room addition that needs a lot of different subcontractors will be a lot more complicated than the work that needs to be done for something like putting in new flooring. No matter what kind of project it is, make sure everything is written down before you start. Details could include specifications for materials, types, and colors of finishes, maintenance and cleanup expectations, who is in charge of different permits and permissions, and much more.
Payments
Having a written payment schedule means that you and your contractor agree on when payments should be made. This makes billing easier and saves you time. You should tie payments to certain goals, percentages of completion, or the delivery of things like new windows or carpeting. No matter how you set your schedule, you should never pay in full for a project that isn’t finished.
Warranties
Most trustworthy contractors in every trade offer a warranty for their work. Before you sign a contract, make sure your contractor’s warranty is clear about what is covered and what isn’t, as well as how long each coverage lasts.
Get peace of mind with a contractor who has already been screened
It can take so much time to check out the qualifications of different contractors that many homeowners skip the process and just hire the first contractor they call. Unfortunately, this can leave you vulnerable to dishonest contractors and bad work. At JPS Cedar Park Construction & Remodeling, we’ve already done all the work you need to feel safe. We’ve checked each contractor’s experience, license, insurance, and qualifications, so you know you’ll be working with someone you can trust. If you want a free, no-obligation estimate on your home remodeling project, just enter your ZIP code above, and a qualified contractor will contact you shortly.
