This post was sponsored by Travelers Insurance; all opinions are my own.
Hey guys! Whether you’re working on a renovation like the Merc, building a new house, or having some plumbing updated, your contractor is probably THE singular most important decision that you can make. Going into the renovation I wouldnt have thought that, but after almost a year of working with our amazing one, and seeing first hand what happens when you have a crappy one, I stand by that statement.
For those that aren’t fully immersed in the home building/renovation world a general contractor is the guy that runs the show. He hires the sub contractors (like plumbers, electricians, drywallers etc.) and makes sure that everyone is showing up, doing their work, and getting paid. Most subs are pretty loyal to their general, so just like like things attract, if you get a great general, you’ll have great subs.
Like I mentioned earlier, I’ve seen first hand what it’s like when you have a great contractor and a not great one.
Being the unconventional space that the Merc is and unconventional level of DIY that needed to happen, we weren’t sure how to even find a general contractor. The bank and the city told us that we needed one. But where do you even start?! Funny thing, we were initially working with a different one at the beginning of this whole journey. At the last minute he decided to bow out, which at the time seemed pretty devastating, but like everything else in the Merc turned into a huge miracle.
As most of you know, my in-laws recently built a new house (you can see it here!) and their experience was the exact opposite of mine. Their contractor was unorganized, dishonest, careless, and a complete joke.
So how do you make sure that you get one like ours, and not one like theirs?!
1 . Get references specifically from their most recent projects. Sure, any reference is great, but wouldn’t it be even better to get some from clients that they’ve worked with in the last 6 months, as well as 5 years ago?
- Be extremely transparent. There is something to be said about finding someone that you get along with and that understands your vision from the beginning. If they’re not willing to let you outline and agree to specific expectations then they probably aren’t your person.
Travelers has 10 more tips on their site for hiring a contractor, as I was reading through them I couldn’t help but nod in agreement as I was going down the list. There are so many important things to consider to protect yourself and your home. Check out the full list here, I agree with all 10 of them!
What lessons have you learned from hiring a contractor?
A good contractor is worth his/her weight in gold. Unfortunately, it sometimes means that you have to wait a while for them to get to your project, because they are in such high demand. My husband and I have used the same contractor for big and little jobs for probably 20 years now; you can’t beat that kind of relationship. BTW, he’ll be back tomorrow! It’s amazing how many great projects you can think up when you know someone who can implement your ideas.
Thank you for good tips. Another one to add is – don’t try to negotiate too hard with the contractors you plan to hire – the good ones understand their value and rearly discount their quotes, the ones who do might be not the ones you are after.
Great tip!
As a maternity/NICU nurse I often get asked who I recommend for a pediatrician. I usually tell them that most doctors really do know their stuff and are good at what they do. It’s just important that they find one they can communicate well with and build a repoire with. As we build our 2nd house, I think the same holds true for contractors. Many are very capable, you just have to find one that you can communicate well with and will see you vision become reality. You have to trust each other–that huge…they have to respect you and realize that they ultimately work for you and that it’s your money!