5 Things To Do Before Hiring A Home Contractor
Keep these tips in mind next time you need to hire a contractor to make sure you get the best work possible for your money.
14/02/2021
Renovating your home is an exciting and rewarding effort, but most people don’t have the skills and resources to do the work themselves, and so they turn to a contractor. If you’re not careful, hiring the wrong home renovation contractor could turn your dream home project into a renovation catastrophe.
Keep these tips in mind next time you need to hire a contractor to make sure you get the best work possible for your money.
1. Figure Out Your Budget
Before looking into the contractors themselves, you need to know how much you’re willing to spend on your home renovation. In 2018, the average cost of building or renovating an existing home in South Africa was R7 323. This number is bound to change depending on the project's scale and duration, so it’s important to know if you can comfortably pay for a major renovation project without breaking the bank.
2. Research The Cost
Once you’re certain that a home renovation project is financially feasible, it’s time to figure out how much you should expect to pay a professional contractor.
The cost of a renovation project will vary greatly depending on what exactly the project entails. A new garden for the yard is something you might be able to do yourself with the right supplies and an afternoon of hard work. However, major renovations inside your home will cost at least tens of thousands of rand for supplies and labor.
3. Get Multiple Estimates
Now that you have some numbers to work with,
it’s time to get in touch with contractors. Make
certain that you talk to more than one
contractor and discuss the project's details to
get accurate estimates for what they would
charge you. With the research you’ve done
beforehand, you should immediately be able to
tell if any contractor is trying to overcharge
you for their work.
However, that doesn’t
mean you should immediately take the cheapest
option! Ask for a detailed estimate that breaks
down the cost of items and labor so that you can
see where your money is going.
Bonus tip: When talking to the contractor, ask them questions about their work. It’s not a requirement, but it’s almost always a good sign when a contractor appears to be passionate about their work. You can use their response to gauge whether or that may be the case.
4. Do A Background Check
Home renovation contractors are required to have certain registrations and certifications. You can either ask the contractor to provide said documents or search their name or business online to find out that way. Don't just take their word for it! While looking up potential contractors online, you will probably also find blogs and social media posts about their past work.
You can use this opportunity to assess the quality of their craftsmanship and make a judgment call. This would also be when any news stories or articles appear in your search results that discuss controversies or issues with the contractor in the past.
5. Ask Your Neighbors
If you’ve done all the above and still don’t feel confident moving forward with a particular contractor, you should turn to people who have experience with the matter: your neighbors! They might provide insightful information that you can’t find anywhere else, plus they might be able to recommend contractors.
Your neighbor’s good word might be all the proof you need, but you should still do your due diligence and conduct independent research.
Conclusion
If you’re thinking about embarking on a home renovation project soon, make sure you research several contractors and inquire about rates before any work is completed. Also, get to know your potential candidates and choose the person that leads to a personal connection.