Five Things To "Do" When Selecting a Bathroom Remodel Contractor

Here are the five most important considerations when selecting a contractor for a bathroom remodel:

1. DO your homework
Before bringing in contractors and collecting estimates spend some time researching your dream bathroom remodel. Then make some decisions that you will not waver on to help narrow down and mainstream your project. This will also guard against contractor bids that are overpriced or not in keeping with your requirements.

Know how much you want to spend - one of the biggest pitfalls is having your remodel price escalate out of control leaving you with an unfinished nightmare or compromised hasty decisions.
Decide on the important features that are essential to you - a resurfaced tub costs less than a new tiled shower. You might want to skimp on the high-end toilet bowl and utilize that money towards a granite vanity top.
Know your style preference - it is easy to get swept away in design books and concepts. If you are more of a country girl at heart, a modern sleek bathroom with stainless steel accents maybe too harsh for you and contrast sharply from the style of your home.

2. DO ask for referrals

Speak with family and friends to find out which contractors they have had good experiences with and just as importantly contractors they would never hire again. Find out what made it a positive experience, how the contractor handled problems and if the job was finished within budget and time frame. If possible look at the work a contractor has completed. It will give you the best idea of what their work is like.
Search engines have advanced methods of ranking websites. If using Google or Bing to find a contractor in your area start by typing your area bathroom remodelingcompany and read the websites of the construction companies that represent the style and workmanship you are looking for. Be sure to read reviews by former clients, as it will give you a feel for the company.

3. DO interview potential contractors

Set up meetings with a minimum of three contractors maximum of five. It can become overwhelming and confusing to interview more than five so try and narrow down the search to the top contenders. Estimates should be free. Regardless of whether you use the contractor interviewed it is possible for you to come away with many good ideas to implement during your bathroom remodel.
Other points to consider during this meeting are:
Make sure the contractor holds all the required licenses from the state and local municipalities
Look for credentials - designations from professional associations such as the National Association of the remodeling Industry, certifications of tests completed etc. Be aware that not all certifications are created equal.
Check for proof of workers compensation insurance
Ask for references of jobs completed
If they are unwilling to give any of the above information it is a possible red flag.

Something to consider is that a remodeling job is different to construction. A remodel takes construction to the next level and requires a great deal of routing and working with existing infrastructure. Be sure to question the contractor specifically on if he or she has lots of experience in remodeling.

4. DO conduct a background check

Once you have narrowed the search be sure to follow up on references given to you. This contractor and his crew will be coming in and out of your home not to mention be responsible for the execution of a large sum of your money.
Call the contractors' former customers and ask about the job execution. Were they on time and on budget? Were the customers pleased with the outcome? Was there anything that could have been done differently? How did the contractor handle setbacks? How flexible were they if plans changed during the course of the project? What was the crew like? Did they clean up after themselves? Were they respectful of your property?
Check with the local Better Business Bureau website to see if the company is BBB accredited and if there are any complaints against them.

As tempting as it is to choose the contractor on the basis of price, take care to look at the details of the bid presented. Take care to note the work to be done and the materials to be used.

5. DO have a written agreement
Once you have selected the contractor be sure to scrutinize the contract that is given to you. Make sure the legal agreement includes the following items:

Bid price and a payment schedule
Detailed description of the scope of work to take place
A schedule of tasks including a detailed timetable - A bathroom remodel can completely disrupt your daily life so it is vital to have a timetable. This will cause you and your family the least amount of stress.
A change-order clause - make sure that the contract stipulates that you must approve, in writing, all additional work that is done beyond the original scope of the remodel.
Clause about dispute resolution and any warranty information

When the job is finished do not hand over the final payment until the work has been inspected and approved. A bathroom remodelcan return 80-90% of your investment at resale and provide years of enjoyment. While it takes time to follow through the initial stages of this process, the time spent is well worth the end result.

Choosing The Right Bathroom Remodeling Contractor

Choosing the right bathroom remodeling contractorswill make all the difference in the outcome. Even if you have thought out everything necessary, if your contractor doesn't do the job right, it will look off somewhat.

There are certain specifications when it comes to picking a contractor. The most important thing that you can do is interview several of them. You have to have a list of questions to ask them, ensuring that you take note of each answer they give you.

A great way to find a top bathroom remodeling contractor is through word-of-mouth. Referrals are a wonderful way to ensure that you are dealing with a professional. Even through friends' referrals, however, you should ask a series of questions.

Your friends should be able to answer whether the contractor was professional, courteous, if he was able to complete the work on time, if he is certified, and such. Remember that you will get what you pay for. Of course, contractors also have peak seasons. This is when they will be the most costly. If you can at all hold off on your renovations, do so until it's quiet season. You could save quite a bit of money doing so.

When interviewing your bathroom contractors, ensure that he is familiar with the materials you plan on using. Some are not qualified or they lack a certain level of expertise when it comes to certain materials. Before hiring him, make sure that he can handle the job.

Before you begin your interviews, you should have some kind of plans as to what you are aiming for in your new bathroom. If at all possible, do your best to have plans drawn up either by yourself or by a professional designer. This will avoid any misunderstandings between the two parties and you'll be able to make an educated decision as to which contractor you should choose.

Ask Your Bathroom Remodeling Contractor the Right Questions

Usually when I go to someone's home to give them a bathroom remodeling estimate, I provide them with most of the questions and answers, that they're ever going to need. This is how I do business, but some contractors don't do business this way. Therefore, it's up to you, the homeowner to ask your bathroom remodeling contractor the right questions.

1. How long is the job going to take, before it's completed?

2. Is my job going to be a priority for your Construction Company or are you doing more work right now than you can handle?

3. Are you going to be here every day and if not, who will be overseeing the job? Make sure that you meet and get along with the person who's going to be in charge and working on your home every day, until the projects completed.

4. Do you have a payment plan and does your bathroom remodeling estimate have every item in it, so that I can compare it to the other contractor's estimates?

5. Do you guarantee your work and if so for how many years? Make sure that you understand what your contractor is and isn't guaranteeing. I don't guarantee any products or building materials, simply because I don't make them. As a bathroom remodeling contractor, it's my job to assemble these products, not to guarantee them.

6. How do we handle any problems while the work is in progress or after the project is completed?

7. Will you be working on my project every day until it's completed? This can become a big problem for contractors who are taking on more work than they can handle.

8. Can you provide me with a copy of your liability insurance? And workers compensation insurance, if they have employees?

There are plenty of other questions you can ask your bathroom remodeling contractor about your project. Make sure that you create a list of questions and concerns and go over them with your bathroom remodeling contractor. If you're serious about hiring a good contractor and you really don't want to have a lot of problems while working on your project, you should solve as many of the problems as you can, before the job starts.