Hey everyone! We hope you’re doing well and your year has kicked off with good health.
We’re excited because we know a new year means that you’re making plans to build that custom home this year, but how do you go about choosing the right contractor?
Well, that’s what we’re going to cover in this month’s blog, so let’s dive right in!
ONE | License and Insurance
This goes without saying; the last thing you want is to hire a contractor that either isn’t insured or doesn’t have the proper certifications. We recommend making it crystal clear from the start to ensure the company is licensed and insured because it will protect you from any liability in case an accident occurs.
You can search builders on the BC Housing – Licence Registry to further validate a company.
TWO | Communication
It would be really weird and off-putting if there wasn’t great communication from a building contractor. Now, we know that, unfortunately, this holds true for some companies, but not us; we pride ourselves on ensuring the entire process is well communicated from start to finish.
Here are some things to look for to ensure you’re getting the communication you deserve.
– They will listen and understand your “must-haves”
– They should give thorough answers and follow questions to make sure they’re on the same page as you
– You will notice from the very beginning that they are good communicators as they will update constantly about timelines, tasks, and targets.
THREE | Timelines
There needs to be a specific timeline that’s laid out by your contractor, which should include a schedule of key milestones, completion dates, and consistent communication between you and the builder about your work schedule; if there isn’t, this wouldn’t be a contractor to go with.
When you’re interviewing companies, make sure you ask lots of questions about how they will respond to any unexpected delays and what actions they will take to resolve those scenarios. This should give you an idea of the amount of effort they will put in.
FOUR | Budget
When it comes to budgeting, a contractor should provide a detailed estimate of the project cost, which needs to include an itemized list that breaks down the costs of material and labour.
Any unexpected changes that occur have to be confirmed through you first; far too many times have we heard horror stories of contractors moving forward with budget changes without client approval, which, as you can imagine, didn’t go over well.
Remember, the biggest thing is making sure there’s an agreement of what you get to do with the budget you have and what may cost extra.
FIVE | Experience
You don’t want to hire a company with little experience; the longer a builder has been at it, the more knowledgeable they become with solving bigger problems. Longer tenure means more project variety (complex or not), which gives you comfort that they can find a solution for any problem.
We’re the trusted solution for many here on Vancouver Island because we have over 40 years experience building custom homes of all kinds. Tap here to see some of our projects!
There you have it, five things to consider when choosing the right contractor! We hope this was informative and gave you some insight into what to look for.
It’s expertise like this which gives so much confidence in our services when building a custom home. To get a quote on your next project, CONTACT US.
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