3 Important Things Your Contractor May Not Tell You

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To help ensure that your home improvement projects are successful, here is a list of important things your contractor may not tell you.

Finding a good contractor is the best way to help ensure that your home improvement projects are successful. Knowing whether a contractor is good or bad is a whole other struggle, one that starts with great references and proof of licensing. Even a good contractor, however, may still have some issues. Here are some examples of important things that your contractor may not tell you.

The Lowest Bid Isn’t Always the Best

In fact, it’s often the opposite. We are all so used to going for the least expensive item at the supermarket, or the clothing store, but when it comes to contractors this just isn’t true. Price will vary, but it doesn’t always vary with quality.

If you are choosing your contractor on the sole basis of price, you are likely in for some trouble. Choosing a contractor should be based on appropriate licensing and insurance, references, and past work before the budget should be considered as one of the most important things your contractor may not tell you. 

Keep The Work In Mind: Wanting to save money during the home building process is certainly understandable, but you aren’t really saving money if you’re paying for shoddy work. Shortcuts can end up costing you more in the end.

You want the best price for the quality that you desire. You also want a fair price because if your contractor isn’t making enough, they can’t hire adequate help, and the quality will suffer.

Contractors Can’t Do It All

It is true that contractors often have experience in many different facets of construction and repair work, but keep in mind the old adage “jack of all trades, master of none”. This is very true when it comes to contractors. 

Specialized Jobs: Especially when it comes to plumbing or electrical work, you are always better off hiring a professional in that trade. There are too many mistakes that can be made or major damage that can be done, which can cost you time, money, or your entire project.

Hiring people who are experts in their field is an important component of hiring the best person for any job. 

It’s All In The Contract 

Not that all contractors do, but it is easy for some to take advantage of contracts, especially as the contractor typically gets the better end of the deal by writing their own contracts. 

Don’t Get Left Behind: For example, if the contract requires you to prepay for work but does not specify a date of completion, you could be out a lot of money, sitting on your hands waiting for the contractor to finish the job. 

Be Specific with the Contract

Many contractors will also use pre-made contracts, which can be to your disadvantage if the contractor does not write in a lot of very specific details. Remember that it is up to you to look over and approve the contract before signing your agreement to their terms. So take the time to talk to your contractor about the contract, and ask for specifics about the work, payment schedule, and end date. This doesn’t mean that you can’t be flexible if a little extra time is needed, but it can protect you from getting taken advantage of.

You can also write in your own requirements to any contract before it is signed. Have the contractor initial the additions.

Also Read: Everything you need to know about building a new home

Other important things your contractor may not tell you

Aside from these three examples, there may be other important things your contractor may not tell you. Sometimes a contractor will keep something from you because he or she does not consider it to be an important detail. After all, there are so many details in any given project, sometimes you are only going to hear about the “need to know” details.

Other times a contractor may not know how to tell you something or is worried that you may take something the wrong way. They might think that they will be able to solve whatever problem they are having without having to bother you with it. Whatever the reason, there are going to be some important things your contractor may not tell you, or sometimes cannot, tell you.

Be sure you read this post, Important Questions you should ask before hiring a contractor before you begin your home construction process. Once you become informed, you’ll be well on your way to constructing a beautiful new home that meets all your needs and specifications.