How to Hire a House Addition Contractor

 A house addition is a major project that can quickly become expensive. You want to get it right to avoid costly repairs and rework down the line. Rather than taking the DIY route, hire credible and experienced house repair contractors with the tools, skills, and technologies to do the job safely and efficiently. They will work closely with you to fulfill your project while helping control expenses related to the build.

 

Choosing a house addition contractor can be daunting because you can never be surethey’re specialists with the right experience and qualifications for the job. You also want to hire someone reliable, trustworthy, honest, and easy to work with. After all, this person will visit your property for weeks or even months. Even a relatively simple project can become a nightmare if you can’t get along with a contractor.

 

How to find contractors for renovation

 

Ask for recommendations from friends, neighbors, or colleagues who recently had the same or similar project done. Contractors typically get leads from referrals.

 

You can also try looking up house addition contractors online. Check the names or companies that come up and make a list, then find out about them.

 

But if you want to eliminate the guesswork, use a reliable contractor referral service like The Remodel Pros.

 

Why should I use a contractor referral service?

 

Online contractor referral services help homeowners find qualified local house repair contractors and renovation specialists near them. It’s a quick and easy way to get free estimates and compare contractors to make informed hiring decisions for your project.

 

Make sure you’re using a credible and trustworthy contractor referral service like The Remodel Pros. They know the contractors in their network and don’t take a percentage of the project from them. They also match you with contractors who specialize in house additions and are geographically near you.

 

How to use a contractor referral service

 

If using The Remodel Pros, indicate that you’re doing a house addition and enter your zip code. Share a few details about your house addition project through the project request form and wait for qualified contractors to get back to you within 24 to 48 business hours to schedule an estimate. You may get up to four contractor referrals.

 

Which contractor should I get?

 

For home additions, focus on home renovators and remodeling contractors. There’s a difference between someone who remodels and someone who specializes in new builds. Remodeling contractors deal with already occupied facilities, such as your home. As such, they will take steps to ensure the rest of the house is safe and keep other workers from the rest of your property. They will also respect your privacy.

 

But is it necessary to hire contractors for a renovation?

 

DIY house additions can take a long time to complete and may become expensive. You may not even have the qualifications, skills, training, and equipment for the job. It’s best to entrust additions to reputable and seasoned house repair contractors to save time and money and ensure the best results.

 

Just make sure you’re hiring the right contractors. House additions should be left to experienced and licensed remodeling or renovation contractors. A handyman may only be qualified to do small tasks and may not have special licensing. However, if you’re hiring a handyman for a house addition, take the time to verify their licensing and qualifications. It’s against the law for a professional to work on a project outside their qualifications and their licensure, and you’ll be liable for injuries that may occur.

 

What should I look for when hiring a house addition contractor?

 

Seek a licensed remodeling or renovation contractor with the skills and training for the job, no matter the size of the project. They should have project management skills and oversight to ensure the build is done safely, according to code, and within your deadline and budget. You should also ensure they have the essential experience for the job, so check for references and previous projects to see how they fared with them.

 

How many contractors should I meet?

 

House additions are typically large projects that may require you to meet with three or four contractors. By comparing several teams, you can be sure that you’re hiring the best house addition contractor for your project—one with a good track record of meeting their client’s needs in terms of quality, price, and value.

 

Things to do to ensure a cost-effective job

 

Never hire a contractor based on price alone. Don’t decide until you have thoroughly compared all the bids.

It’s never a good idea to hire the most expensive contractor, thinking that you will get the best results by paying more because this isn’t necessarily true. Conversely, you shouldn’t just hire the cheapest one until you clarify what’s included in the contract. The proposal should clearly state the details of the job and the prices for each task. Ask questions if something doesn’t add up, and clarify anything you think is missing.

 

Check for insurance and liability coverage

 

Once you have decided on a prospect, find out if they have workers’ compensation and liability insurance. Verify their certifications and licensing and see if they meet the requirements of your county, state, or city government. You’ll want to hire contractors for renovation with the relevant certifications for the job they will do. Otherwise, you risk hiring people who may not have sufficient training or knowledge for the job.

 

Liability insurance is crucial for every contractor, including house repair contractors. If they don’t have it, you will become legally liable if they or anyone from their team is injured while working on your property. Look for copies of their insurance certificates.Workers’ compensation may be optional for small companies, but remember that you will be liable for any injuries on your property.

 

Know the extent of their capabilities

 

Some contractors can help you process building permits when necessary. This can be a good add-on service if you don’t have time to do this yourself.

 

It’s also a good idea to find out how many recent house additions they have done. Pick a seasoned house addition contractor that specializes in this type of project. Someone with little to no experience in building house additions will find it hard to cope with the unique challenges of this type of job, which can ultimately result in delays.

Find out who will be working on your project

 

Ask if there will be a dedicated team for the project and if there are sub-contractors. This should help you become familiar with the faces visiting your home daily. You want to feel secure, even with strangers in your home, so it’s best to hire a dedicated team of contractorsfor renovation with a project manager to oversee everything.