Home improvement projects – large and small – are exciting investments in your home, property and lifestyle.
Whether the purpose is to replace, upgrade or add something entirely new to your home’s amenities, finding the right contractor can be a pleasure – or it can leave you with a serious case of buyer’s remorse.
Taking the time to find the right client/contractor fit goes a long way toward weathering any number of challenges you may face along your way to a completed project.
From snarled supply chains and backordered appliances to bad weather or crew delays, it’s not so much how the problem comes about but instead how you and your contractor work together to resolve it.
Understanding your project and goals for doing it before you speak to prospective contractors matters.
Take some time to research your project and the industry to become familiar with it will help those initial interviews go smoothly.
Specific trades like heating, ventilation and air conditioning [HVAC], plumbing and electrical work can be contracted for directly.
But for more complex improvements like additions, kitchens, baths and basement finishing, consider hiring a general contractor experienced in the work you want to buy.
A construction general contractor is the firm – and the person – responsible for employing or hiring all the trades needed to complete larger projects, because several specialties are involved in the work.
Kitchen and bath renovations, a home addition or several system upgrades are great examples of projects, which benefit from a general contractor.
Few recommendations can beat a happy customer experience – and personal recommendation.
“There is nothing that can replace that first-hand experience,” said John Gemmi, owner of Gemmi Construction Inc. in Buckingham Township.
Word-of-mouth referrals from friends, work colleagues, neighbors and acquaintances who have had similar construction experience is a great place to start.
“You want to ask [prospective contractors] for references and be sure to call them and talk to them,” said Dennis Gehman, president of Gehman Design Remodeling in Harleysville, Montgomery County.
Local building supply and lumber yards will have a wealth of knowledge about industry professionals and most are happy to share it.
You can also check resources like Pennsylvania’s Home Improvement Consumer Information website, or visit the state’s Office of the Attorney General Home Improvement Contractor Registration listings, to see a contractor’s record or complaints against it.
The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) in Wheeling, Illinois offers a database of registered contractors across the U.S.
Locate a NARI registered contractor by zip code, trade or specialty on the not-for-profit’s platform.
“Professional work comes from professional contractors. If it’s a NARI member, you know they have been vetted and are held to our code of ethics,” said Chris Egner, NARI president, and owner of Chris Egner Design-Build-Remodel in New Berlin, Wisconsin.
Counter staff at many area suppliers can provide information or direct you to department managers for specific trades suggestions, Gemmi said.
Some lumber and building supply companies offer contractor referrals lists to customers, too.
Asking lumber and building supply staff about their experiences with contractors, including how professional they are to work with and if they pay their own bills on time, is another good indication of a company’s business and work ethic, according to Gehman.
He suggests asking contractors how they organize their work and workload, how they handle schedule changes and supply problems, and if the same crew members are planned to be on the job site from start to finish.
While local borough and township officials are unlikely to make recommendations endorsing a specific contractor, they may be willing to share general information about inspections and outcomes.
From insurance and project portfolios to holding a schedule and keeping promises, it’s important to make sure the firm you hire is willing and able do the job they’ve agreed to do.
Appropriate business and liability insurance as well as a fat portfolio of work to share with you should be high on your qualifications list.
Along with seeing your contractor’s proof of insurance, don’t hesitate to call the insurance agent and ask questions; including how long the contractor has been with the agent, and if the contractor has had any major claims against them, Gehman said.
“Don’t be afraid to drill down,” Gehman noted.
Many contractors will post images of completed projects on a gallery tab on their website, or social media platforms.
Those with quality work are happy to share the results of their projects.
Pennsylvania’s 2008 Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act requires all contractors charging more than $5,000 a year in home improvement jobs to be registered in Pennsylvania.
Keep in mind, the commonwealth does not have a building industry certification program.
The PA.gov website confirms Pennsylvania does not currently have “...licensing or certification requirements for most construction contractors (or their employees.)”
Pennsylvania’s Home Improvement Contractor Registration list aims to help consumers make informed choices about home remodeling and renovation companies before they sign contracts.
“If homeowners have called in with complaints [about a contractor] those would be on file,” with the registry, Gehman explained.
NARI contractor members will have access to product and ongoing education.
Many manufacturers offer product certifications, which means a contractor has been trained specifically to install and/or maintain their products, and will probably have manufacturer support and warranties.
Some examples where a manufacturer certification could apply include some HVAC, roofing or siding materials.
Before calling contractors make a list of the project’s requirements.
You don’t need to specify every detail, but you do need a concept to convey, an approximate budget and what your ideal schedule looks like.
For example, a kitchen renovation can mean many things.
•Will you reuse, replace or reface cabinetry? Replace or add countertops?
•Are you keeping the floors, do they need replacing? What materials are you looking to use or re use?
•Are you expanding the kitchen by moving or taking walls down, or working within the existing space.
•What about appliances, plumbing, lighting and electrical work - at what price points are you looking to spend?
•Are you interested in smart technology or Energy Star appliances?
•Are you changing the home’s HVAC service, for example from one fuel type to another; for example to another, like oil to electric to natural gas?
Gemmi said asking how long a contractor has been in business – as well as if the crew are employees or sub contractors, can make a difference on the job.
Small businesses may not hire all positions, but they should have a stable of qualified and quality subcontractors from which to pull to fill out work crews for jobs.
Leigh Nunno, a Realtor and associate broker at Melissa Healy Group at Keller Williams Real Estate in Doylestown, recommends prospective buyers ask contractors they interview how the job team is made up.
Some contracting businesses have staff positions, while others may subcontract with trade professionals – like electricians, roofers, plumbers, HVAC contractors or cement companies, to complete client work.
“The contractor may have extra hands only on the weekends. If it takes more time, and you have only weekends to work, that could add time to the schedule, Nunno said.
“A lot of small businesses had and continue to have a hard time to filling workforce positions, so they may need support” or longer project schedules, she said.
Asking the right questions up front helps set appropriate expectations.
Don’t be afraid to search the business online and read the reviews of its work.
“You’ll want a good relationship with your contractor,” Gemmi said.
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