How to Hire a Building Contractor

What does a Building Contractor Do?

A building contractor is responsible for the day-to-day oversight of your custom home or renovation. They manage all vendors and trades, therefore ensuring you receive the best quality for your investment. They also handle the communication of information to all involved parties throughout the course of your building project.

Getting Bids

A homeowner typically would contact and consult with two or three contractors to get bids on their project. It is a good idea to ask a lot of questions and you should feel comfortable with the contractor who is bidding on the work.

Hiring a Building Contractor

Here's a great article on the Canadian Residential Home Inspection Services website. It's worth reading before hiring a contractor. www.canadianresidential.com/content/hiring-contractor

Get it in Writing

If your potential contractor wants you to pay cash for a discounted rate, answers your questions with a vague answer or doesn't want to get a building permit, a red flag should go up in your mind. If the contractor's price is very low compared to other prices you've gotten, that could signal that your contractor is inexperienced. If you get the feeling that you’re imposing on the contractor’s time or that something isn’t right this could signal another red flag in your mind and this may not be the building contractor for you.

Detailed Contract

A detailed contract describing what is included in the project is a must, especially for a large project such as building a house. A contract should be written for any project so that you know what you are getting.

Can you Work With The Contractor?

Can you work with this contractor when the project gets stressful? Do you have confidence in he or she to be able to solve problems that arise? Does the contractor communicate well if you ask a lot of questions?

Insurance

Does the contractor have adequate insurance? Most insurance companies advise companies to carry 2 million dollars of insurance. Do they carry workman's compensation for their employees?

Contact Universal Builders today for your project.