Get Recommendations!
- Ask your friends and family if theyve recently had a good renovation experience.
- Check online with web sites such as Handy Canadian.
- Ask your decorator or real estate agent
click here to view questions to ask references
Meet Face to Face Do phone interviews
Once you've assembled a list, Tjeerd recommends that you make a quick call to each of your prospects and ask them the following questions:
• Do they take on projects of your size?
• Are they willing to provide financial references, from suppliers or banks?
• Can they give you a list of previous clients?
• How many other projects would they have going at the same time?
• How long have they worked with their subcontractors?
The answers to these questions will reveal the company's availability, reliability, how much attention they'll be able to give your project and how smoothly the work will go.
• Are they willing to provide financial references, from suppliers or banks?
• Can they give you a list of previous clients?
• How many other projects would they have going at the same time?
• How long have they worked with their subcontractors?
The answers to these questions will reveal the company's availability, reliability, how much attention they'll be able to give your project and how smoothly the work will go.
Based on the phone interviews, pick three or four contractors to meet for estimates and further discussion. A contractor should be able to answer your questions satisfactorily and in a manner that puts you at ease. Tjeerd says that it's crucial that you two communicate well because this person will be in your home for hours at a time. On the other hand, don't let personality fool you. Check every reference! Click link below to see "Questions to ask References"
Investigate the Facts
Now that you've narrowed your list, put your research to use. Call up former clients to find how their project went and ask to see the finished product. But Tjeerd says you shouldn't rely on results alone. Even more important, visit a current job site and see for yourself how the contractor works. Is the job site neat and safe? Are workers courteous and careful with the homeowner's property?