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You and Your Contractor - Business
Partners
Home builders and
remodelers can fill your house with splendid amenities and build the
home of your dreams. But first you mist establish a business partnership
with the right contractor. Make certain you and your contractor can
agree on a method for reaching a mutual goal - your ideal house!
Do your homework before hiring a
contractor. If you take the following steps, you will be likely to
maintain a good working relationship with your contractor for the
duration of the building or remodeling process.
When looking to hire a contractor,
you should:
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Ask for referrals. Call your local home builders
association, which can give you lists of its members who do the kind
of work you need done. Ask your neighbors and friends for names of
contractors with whom they have worked. And for new homes, check out
the newspaper ads for the types and price ranges of homes being
built in your area
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Look for a contractor who has done projects similar
to yours.
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Ask prospective contractors for a tentative job
schedule. Contractors cannot always determine the exact amount of
time they will need to complete projects because they cannot control
some factors such as whether or back-ordered building materials. But
they can usually give you a rough estimate.
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Talk about change orders. Sometime during the
building or remodeling process you might want to change your order.
Ask prospective contractors the procedure they use for placing
change orders. Most change orders include a description of the
change, cost implications and resulting schedule delays.
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Ask for a written estimate of the work to be done
based on a set of plans and specifications.
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If you compare your estimate with another, be sure
each one is based on the same set of plans and specifications. You
can't effectively compare estimates from contractors who plan to use
different brands of building materials. If a contractor suggests
deviations, ask him or her to present those ideas as options.
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Let contractors know you are not only interested in
the lowest bid.
Trust your
instincts. If you take the proper steps and ask the right questions, you
will develop a sense of which contractor is best suited to complete your
project. Meet contractor to explain how the project would progress.
Choose a contractor who acts professionally and takes the job seriously.
After you've selected your contractor,
you will need to sign a written contract. Most contract agreements
include: job specifications; lists of necessary materials (including
brand names, colors, sizes etc.); final cost estimates; a payment
schedule; a change-order clause; and estimated start and completion
dates.
After you select your contractor sit
back, relax and watch your dreams into reality.
Home Builders Association of the Alleghenies
c/o Leventry Law Office
1397 Eisenhower Boulevard
Richland Square III, Suite 202
Johnstown, PA 15904
814-269-9268
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