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Avoiding Bad Home Construction Contractors
Simple Tips on How to Interview and Hire Home
Construction Contractors
By: Mark J. Donovan
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I will preface this article by saying
that not all home construction contractors are bad. Quite frankly, by and large
most are quite good and take great pride in their craftsmanship. However, there
are many homeowners who have been, and are currently being, ripped off by bad
home construction contractors. The trick in avoiding bad construction
contractors is observing the tell tale signs of their characteristics. |
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Years ago when I was acting as my
own general contractor on a home construction project I had the experience
of hiring a framing contractor that I came to regret. From that experience I
learned a few tips on how to avoid bad construction contractors and I share
them with you below.
Check Home
Construction Contractor References
As part of the interviewing and
hiring process, it is absolutely necessary to check references before making
an offer to a home construction contractor. |
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By doing this simple task many homeowners can easily avoid hiring the wrong
construction contractor.
The first thing I like to look at when presented with a reference list by a home
construction contractor is the length and diversity of the list. The longer the
list the better, as this gives you more opportunities to get objective opinions.
A long reference list is also a clear sign that the home construction contractor
takes pride in his craft. Finally a long list typically means that there is both
recent and older home construction projects included, and this is a very
important point.
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When checking references I always
like to check several references on the home construction contractors list, and
typically I will check both recently completed projects and projects that were
completed a few years ago. This is a very important point. Many bad construction
contractors poor craftsmanship doesn’t show up until months or years after they
have left the job site. By checking references on older construction projects
you can find out if the contractor’s craftsmanship has stood the test of time.
Make sure when you speak with the reference to ask them about the need for
replacing or repairing items such as windows and exterior doors. Also ask them
if there have been any roof leaks and if the drywall has had many nail pops.
Multiple issues of this nature reported to you by the reference should be clear
warning signs that this may be a home construction contractor to avoid.
Speak to
Contractor Peers and other Trades who have worked with your Contractor Candidate
Another way to weed out bad home
construction contractors is to talk with their peers. For example, if I had
checked with my electrical and plumbing subcontractors about the framing
contractor I hired, I could have avoided a bad experience. Both my electrical
and plumbing subcontractors new of my framing contractor and walked off the job
just one day into their work, because they could not stand working with the
framing contractor on site. Fortunately I was able to get them back a few days
later when the framing contractor finished up his portion of the project.
Contractors
Attention to Detail in the Contractor Bid
If you receive a contractor bid that
is lacking specifics about the home construction project this should be a clear
warning sign. If after requesting additional details in the construction bid and
not receiving them, and/or if the contractor is dismissive or vague, move on in
your home construction contractor hiring search. This is certainly a tell tale
sign of a bad construction contractor and someone you should avoid.
Make a couple of
Test Calls to Construction Contractor Candidates
A sure way to avoid bad home
construction contractors is to see how quickly they respond to your calls or
messages. While you are in the contractor interviewing process, make a call or
two to the potential construction contractor, preferably leaving a message,
regarding a specific question you may have about their construction bid. If they
do not respond back to you, or take days to do so, this is a clear warning sign.
If the contractor is unwilling to be responsive to you before he has your money,
think of what he will be like after he has it.
How Knowledgeable
is the Home Construction Contractor
Finally, discern how knowledgeable a
potential home construction contractor is about his profession. First, make sure
he is properly licensed in your state. Second, see if he is part of any
professional home builder organizations. And lastly, see how knowledgeable he is
in the latest in new home construction technology and methods. For example, is
he using state of the art construction techniques and home building products? By
knowing this type of information, you will get a sense if this guy is a leader
in the home construction field or not.
So with these few basic tips you’ve
now increased your chances immensely in avoiding a bad home construction
contractor and averting a home construction nightmare.
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