Why it’s so Important to do Your Homework Before Hiring a Renovator
It’s sad, but true. There are some renovators and general contractors out there who specialize in dishonest business practices. From projects abandoned before the work is complete to contractors getting in over their heads by tackling projects far above their pay grade, they serve to cause heartaches for homeowners who have worked and saved to finally launch that home improvement project they’ve been dreaming of. They also supply more than their fair share of headaches for honest renovators who must then come in and clean up their mess. While many people may feel as though they’ve done their homework by shopping around for a number of bids before deciding which renovator to use, unfortunately some of them will base this all-important decision on price alone. Everybody loves a good deal, but when it comes to something as significant as the home you share with your family – this is definitely an area where you won’t want to cut corners.
Another difficult reality is that the fix may end up costing homeowners far more than if they had originally elected to go with one the renovators who came in with a higher bid. An inexperienced or unscrupulous contractor may also skip steps with regard to acquiring the proper paperwork from the city or county to complete the work, and the ensuing fines may leave the homeowners with a costly subpar project. If a contractor is not properly insured, in the event that one of his subcontractors is injured on a job working on a homeowner’s property – that homeowner may wind up holding the bag with regard to the medical expenses. This doesn’t have to happen to you if you do the research before you sign on the dotted line, and if you use the following tips when selecting the RIGHT renovator for your home improvement project.
- Request bids, but don’t base your decision solely on price alone. You often get what you paid for.
- Schedule face-to-face meetings with project supervisors from each company to make sure you have a good rapport and that they seem to be attentive to your wants, needs, and concerns.
- Do a little digging – once you’ve started narrowing the list down, look beyond the company website and collateral materials that are designed to make the company look good. Look into their professional affiliations, peek around on internet search sites to see if any complaints have been lodged against them on public forums or with the Better Business Bureau. You may even uncover a lawsuit or two. If you find NOTHING about their organization – that may be a warning sign, as well. It’s not unusual for contractors to change their company names to dodge a bad reputation.
- Ask for testimonials from other clients, as well as photos from some of their other jobs.
- Make sure the company you go with is fully licensed, registered and insured.
- Don’t fall under the assumption that you can’t trust anyone. For every shoddy renovator out there, there are just as many hard-working, skilled builders and craftsman who would be honored to be chosen to complete your work.
- Consider Highlight Homes, LLC among the list of companies to design and complete your home improvement project for you. With 20 years in the architectural, construction and renovation industries under our workbelts – we may not come in on the low-end of a bidding war, but we’re worth every penny and have an outstanding record of overall customer satisfaction. Most importantly, we get it right the FIRST time.
If you’d like to contact Highlight Homes to begin discussing your upcoming renovation or room addition (or clean up the mess that the last renovator left behind), we welcome the opportunity to speak with you! Our professional staff can be reached by calling 678.873.9234, e-mailing info@highlighthomesga.com or filling out our convenient online contact form. To learn more about Highlight Homes, visit us online at www.highlighthomesga.com.
