Norm's Corner: Top 5 Questions to Ask Your Remodeling Contractor

Starting a remodeling project can be a nerve racking experience. If you think about it, you are paying someone to come tear up your home and praying that in the end of the specified project period, you will have a beautiful new space to enjoy. The risk is great, but the reward can be great too. A well-executed remodel or renovation can greatly increase the value of your home and your quality of life.

While there are thousands of questions you could (and should) ask a contractor before beginning a project with them, there are five that are absolutely key to finding a reliable contractor that will be able to complete the job with minimal risk, heartache and pain.

Here are the 5 Essential questions to ask any remodeling contractor you interview:

1) Have you, or any of your employees ever filed Bankruptcy, been arrested, or been sued by a previous customer?

When considering the risk and safety of your home and family, it is really important that the contractor and their employees have a clean reputation of trust and integrity. You want to have confidence that your builder is debt-free and well capitalized to ensure the proper financial backing to support your project. You should also understand whether or not they will use your deposit to complete their last job, which many contractors do these days. Finally, for the safety of your family, you want to be sure that they are only bringing background screened, trusted employees into your home and life.

2) Will you pull all of the required building permits for my project?

This is a question that often goes overlooked by many homeowners. However, investing in your home is something to take seriously. When a contractor asks you to pull the permit, they are transferring the liability to you. This means if any subcontractor gets hurt on the job, you will be responsible. You will also be on the hook to ensure all work is up to code and complying with the permit you pulled. If you have a sizable net worth and assets to protect, its best that you find a contractor who puts your best interests first, and will take the time to pull ALL required permits to help guarantee the work done in your home.

3) Are you properly licensed and insured?

This is a major factor when choosing a reliable contractor. This industry is rampant with horror stories of contractors who lack the proper licensing and insurance to perform the job, thus wreaking havoc on homes and bank accounts. A contractor who does not have a license is probably someone who is unqualified to be working in your home, who either lacks the educational foundation or the experience required to be certified. And a contractor who is not insured means that your home could be left unprotected from damage or negligence, and you could be left to pay the price and suffer the consequences. However, finding a contractor that is both licensed and insured in the proper areas can make the remodeling process less stressful because it can give you as the client peace of mind that the company you have hired will be able to stand behind their work.

4) Do you guarantee deposits and warranty your work and provide Lien Wavers? It is important that your contractor guarantee the deposit on your project as it shows accountability that the project will be completed to the standards you have outlined in your agreement. A Lien Waver then ensures that this gets accomplished. Angies List states, With a lien waiver, when the project is successfully completed, both parties sign off and state that the contract obligations have been met. A warranty is extremely important when it comes to remodeling your home as it can protect you in the event that something is faulty or has issues later on after the project has been completed. When looking for a contractor, the industry leading warranty is known as a 2-10 Warranty. The 2-10 Warranty offers coverage on 1-year workmanship, 2-year systems, and 10-year coverage for qualifying structural defects. These warranties help to make sure that your investment is safe and secure for years to come.

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Norm's Corner: Top 5 Questions to Ask Your Remodeling Contractor