22 Important Remodeler Reference Check Questions to Ask Other Homeowners
In some of my last blog posts I discussed steps to follow and information to collect while conducting preliminary phone interviews with potential remodelers and meeting prospective builders for the first time. High in the priority of items to check include comments from previous and current clients with which the contractor in question has done work. While interviewing a contractor, all of his answers to your questions, his credentials, and his list of former clients may seem impressive. Before you take the final step of hiring them, see what those homeowners have to say first.
Below is a list of questions to ask other homeowners on the potential remodeler’s quality and speed of work, pricing accuracy, and consistency of communication:
- Would they use this remodeler again without hesitation?
- Were they pleased with the quality of work?
- Could they communicate well with the remodeler or builder?
- Did the builder listen to their concerns?
- Did the builder respond quickly to their questions and requests?
- Was the builder easy to speak with?
- Were they satisfied with the builder or contractor’s business practices
- Did the contractor add “value engineering” and provide price checks?
- How close was the preliminary estimate the contractor provided to the final contract price?
- How did the remodeler and homeowner resolve any differences that arose during construction?
- Did the work crews show up on time?
- Were the homeowners comfortable with the subcontractors the builder used?
- Did the crew clean up daily?
- Was the job completed on schedule?
- Did the builder or remodeler fulfill his contract to the homeowner’s expectations?
- Did the contractor stay in touch with the homeowner throughout the whole project?
- Was there a project manager on site every day?
- Was supervision adequate?
- Was the builder easy to reach when the homeowner wanted to reach him?
- If the homeowner hired an architect, how well did the remodeler work with that architect?
- Did the builder hold regular progress meetings with the homeowner?
- Was the remodeler trustworthy?
- Do you feel that you got a good value for the money you spent?
- How has the builder handled warranty claims?
- Would you recommend the remodeler unconditionally?
If you are satisfied with all of what the remodeler has to say AND what their clients have to say, it’s time to move to the next level of your remodeling project!
Stay tuned for future blog posts on remodeling secrets that may save you from falling into the traps of unscrupulous contractors.