Renovation projects could be marked by delays, mistakes, priority shifts, especially when inexperienced contractors handle them. The benefits of hiring a contractor are many. However, most people overlook the necessity of making informed decisions.

There are several questions that you need to ask yourself when it comes to hiring a general contractor. Aiming for a cheap contractor is not a rarity, but bear in mind that affordable contractors can cost you big on several occasions.

What is the general contractor you have hired for your dream construction or renovation project not telling you? Let’s look at some of the possibilities.

Our perspective of the project outcome is different

A dream project completed to perfection is what any aspiring property owner would crave. However, they overlook that a cheap contractor can resort to low-grade materials and still make your project look as you envisioned. The end product would look like what you want, but the quality is far from what you expect it would be.  

Hunting for a cheap contractor is not a wrong move; it is just that you have spent enough time and effort to procure and review multiple bids. Scan your offers to make a list of what is included and what is not. Try to pinpoint even the minute details, including standards of the materials used and even the machinery standards.

 The cheap bid that I gave you was to lure you in

Place your project out there to bid, and you are guaranteed to find someone who could outbid the cheapest bid you received. Most people do not know that low bidding is the just an initial and the most successfully used sales strategy used by contractors.

Yes, the competition is high, so contractors use the most critical component of any project, i.e., budget, to lure clients in. On most occasions; Individuals who fall for such compelling bids have to deal with hidden costs, poor quality, and more. 

My qualification does not make me eligible for this specific project. 

A “licensed” tag on the website or the company vehicles does not automatically qualify any contractor for all the work types. Some renovation work requires special licenses and certifications; for example, IICRC certified professionals are your prime professional candidates qualified for cleaning and restoration tasks.

Understanding the different reconstruction or new construction stages and each task involved is crucial when it comes to signing up with the rightly qualified contractor. 

 I’m a terrible listener and communicator.

Contractors are most often busy with work and lack concentration or struggle to put everything in place. Is your contractor a genuine listener? Try to find an answer to this during your first conversation. A nod of approval at consistent intervals during the conversation doesn’t qualify your contractor as a good listener. A good contractor could go to the next level and send a meeting summary with essential points discussed.

Similarly, a contractor that is not a good communicator can take your project differently, which would lead to a loss of time and money. 

Both the communication between the contractor and his workers and the contractor and the property owner is vital for project success.

I might tell you that I’m insured, but I might not be 

The contractor seems to be straightforward when asked about the insurance and shares the policy number without much hassle. Looks good, right? Most people are satisfied by this; however, would it hurt if you take the extra step and verify this policy number to confirm that it is current.

Most individuals out there are not aware of the insurance types that each contractor should have. Can you tell the difference between liability, compensation,, and auto insurance? Do you think that the project at hand requires a contractor that has all these policies?

Finding a contractor for your project might be easy, but finding the right one requires foresight and hard work. Backtracking from what could go wrong is not a bad idea for making sure you have a foolproof plan.