Bathroom Renovation

1. Ask for Referrals and Look for Social Proof/ Reviews

Word of mouth — hands down, it’s the best way to find a qualified professional to tackle the job.

Ask relatives, friends and neighbors whom they have had good experiences with. Also ask what made it a positive experience, how the contractor handled problems and whether he or she would use the same contractor again. Check online reviews and testimonials for the company and make sure they are unsoliciated reviews.

2. Look at Credentials and Past Bathroom Renovations

With recommendations in hand, do some preliminary research, whether that’s with a phone call or a visit to the contractor’s website.

Find out whether he or she holds all the required licenses, as well as designations from any professional associations like the Licensed Building Practitioner. Look for contractors who have invested in coursework and passed rigorous tests in order to earn a particular certification.

3. Interview A Few Bathroom Renovators – Not Just One

Narrow down the list of contenders, and set up meetings. What is the magic number of contractors to interview?

Ultimately, the right amount could be one but no more than three. “With too many quotes, it gets too confusing trying to make a decision.”

4. Check References

Once rapport has been established, ask to see some of the contractor’s projects.

If they meet with approval, request references and then actually call the contractor’s former customers to check up on them. Ask how the contractor did at executing the project. Was it on-time and on-budget? Were they pleased with the outcome? Was there anything that could have been done differently?

5. Get it in Writing

After zeroing in on one Bathroom Renovator who seems right for the job, take a look at the documents he or she has prepared.

Do they look professional? Scrutinize the contract. Does it seem fair and balanced? Also, make sure the legal agreement includes the following:

– a bid price and payment schedule
– the scope of work
– a site plan
– a sequential schedule of primary construction tasks
– a change-order clause
– a written procedural list for close-out
– an express limited warranty
– a clause about dispute resolution
– a waiver of lien, which would prevent subcontractors and suppliers from putting a lien on a house should their invoices go unpaid by the contractor