{"id":382,"date":"2019-10-15T08:37:00","date_gmt":"2019-10-15T15:37:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.insureone.com\/knowledge-center\/?p=382"},"modified":"2025-10-21T20:07:17","modified_gmt":"2025-10-22T03:07:17","slug":"remodeling-avoid-contractor-nightmare","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.insureone.com\/knowledge-center\/homeowners\/tips-for-homeowners\/remodeling-avoid-contractor-nightmare\/","title":{"rendered":"Remodeling? How to Avoid a Contractor Nightmare"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Anytime you need work done on your home that\u2019s above your do-it-yourself skills, you need to hire a contractor, and that can be a tricky proposition. After all, choosing the right contractor for your remodeling job can mean the difference between having a dream renovation or enduring a botched, expensive, and ongoing nightmare. Your homeowners insurance<\/a> is there to protect you from damage to your home due to unexpected events, but hiring a bad contractor can put you in a position that leaves you unprotected and in the cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s why, finding the best contractor for the job is so important to the success of your project. For any remodel, you expect your contractor to show up on time and complete the work on time. Furthermore, you want him to use the right materials and stick to the price quote he gave your prior to starting the job. Seems easy enough but, because of bad contractors, one can\u2019t assume anything until the entire job is done.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re planning a renovation and don\u2019t have a contractor you can trust, here are a few simple guidelines to assist you in your search.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Consult as many sources as possible<\/strong>
\u2022 Don\u2019t pick the first guy that comes along.
\u2022 Talk to family, friends, and neighbors and ask if they know of a good contractor who may have done past work for them.
\u2022 Consult local lumberyards or stores such as Lowe\u2019s and Home Depot. Since they deal with contractors on a daily basis, they may be able to refer one.
\u2022 The Internet can be helpful, but same here\u2026do not be impressed with a website or believe everything you read. Stick to Angie\u2019s List\u2122 and the Better Business Bureau\u00ae.
\u2022 Obtain a list of licensed contractors in your area from the Contractor\u2019s Board or the National Association of the Remodeling Industry<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Ask for credentials and work history<\/strong>
It\u2019s your money, your home\u2026and, that makes you the boss. Don\u2019t be intimidated. Consider they have the following before making a decision:
\u2022 At least 7 years of experience.
\u2022 Are currently licensed and bonded in your state.
\u2022 An excellent work record and reputation and have no derogatory comments with the BBB or Contractor\u2019s Board.
\u2022 Liability and workers\u2019 compensation insurance.
\u2022 No court records of lawsuits, liens, complaints or evidence of a past suspended license with the state licensing bureau.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Don\u2019t be afraid to ask questions<\/strong>
If you\u2019re a novice at hiring a contractor, don\u2019t hesitate to ask questions you feel are important to you and getting the job done right. There are people who claim to be contractors but, unfortunately, they end up being scammers who do shoddy work at best and take your money. So prepare yourself with questions such as the ones below:
\u2022 How long have you been doing renovations\/remodeling in my area? (Request a list of references and subcontractors)
\u2022 Who are your main suppliers? (Verify by talking to the suppliers)
\u2022 Are you equipped for a project this size? (Nothing too large or too small).
\u2022 Are you currently involved in other projects? (Too many projects mean he may be spreading himself too thin, leading to possible cost over-runs and delays in completing the job).
\u2022 Can you show me pictures of completed projects? (Get reference numbers and call these people. Find out firsthand if they are satisfied with his work and if they would use him again).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Get multiple bids<\/strong>
Now that you\u2019ve narrowed down your search, you\u2019re ready to accept bids. Give them your designated specs, what you expect, and all the blueprints, list of materials you want used for the remodel. Let them do a walkthrough and explain what they plan to do. Then ask for a bid and cost breakdown. Also, pin down the planned completion date. Don\u2019t necessarily take the lowest bid. You may be disappointed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Cost breakdown and payment schedule<\/strong>
Don\u2019t take anything for granted. Remember, it\u2019s your money. Know exactly what you\u2019re paying for. Get an itemized list of expenses, materials, fixtures, and labor. Agree on attainable project milestones with payment schedule as follows:
\u2022 10% down at contract signing
\u2022 3 payments of 25% spread out over course of project
\u2022 15% upon completion of project<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Read and review the contract before signing<\/strong>
\u2022 Once you feel comfortable you\u2019ve made the right choice, before signing the contract, you may want to have a lawyer review it as well.
\u2022 Make sure everything is spelled out.
\u2022 If satisfied \u2013 sign the contract and ask for a copy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even after all your research, you\u2019re still dealing with the unknown when it comes to contractors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t deal with the unknown when it comes to insuring your home. Make sure you\u2019re getting the best rate on your homeowners insurance. Why not get a free homeowners insurance quote<\/a> today?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Anytime you need work done on your home that\u2019s above your do-it-yourself skills, you need to hire a contractor, and that can be a tricky proposition. After all, choosing the right contractor for your remodeling job can mean the difference between having a dream renovation or enduring a botched, expensive, and ongoing nightmare. Your homeowners insurance is […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[49],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-382","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-tips-for-homeowners"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insureone.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/382"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insureone.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insureone.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insureone.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insureone.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=382"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.insureone.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/382\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4485,"href":"https:\/\/www.insureone.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/382\/revisions\/4485"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.insureone.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=382"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insureone.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=382"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.insureone.com\/knowledge-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=382"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}