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You can’t wait to start construction on your new custom house—but your dream home can quickly become a nightmare if you don’t hire the right contractor for the job.
The contractor, or construction supply company, will take your architect’s blueprints and transform them into reality. However, if the contractor doesn’t work to a high standard, then you’re left with a home that’s not safe to live in.
When hiring a contractor, you’ll want to avoid a few common mistakes to ensure you hire the right company for the job. To learn more, keep reading to find five of the most common mistakes to avoid when hiring—plus, what you should do instead.
1. Don’t Select on Price Alone
Building projects are a big investment, so it makes sense to just hire the cheapest construction provider, right? Not so fast—one of the most common construction supplier mistakes is hiring solely based on price.
What seems like a good deal in the beginning can quickly turn into a huge financial mess. If a contractor is offering much lower prices than their competitors, there’s likely a good reason for this.
They might cut costs by taking dangerous shortcuts, underpaying their workers, or they might not have the insurance or registrations that are required by law.
Cheap contractors cost you in the long run, since you’ll inevitably have to hire another contractor to fix the mistakes made by the first company.
When hiring a contractor, the cost is an important consideration, but it’s only one of many. Try to focus on the bigger picture, since you want to find a quality contractor who can build you a long-lasting and structurally sound home.
2. Forgetting to Get Everything in Writing
If a contractor tells you they can do the job for a set price, this isn’t enough—be sure to get everything in writing.
It can seem like a good idea to trust someone if they offer to do some work for you. However, verbal agreements don’t have legal standing and won’t protect you if anything goes wrong.
The best construction supplier will provide an estimate for every project, ensuring the customer knows exactly how much they’ll need to pay for the job.
Contractors can bid for a job in one of two methods, an estimate or a fixed-price proposal. The estimate will likely contain more detail while the fixed-price is a simpler document offering you the total price.
No matter what type of bid your contractor makes, they should be able to answer any of your questions about the document.
3. Neglecting References
When selecting a contractor, you’re sure to be in a hurry to get the project started. Is there any point in wasting time making phone calls to their references?
Yes—skipping out on references is another big mistake. It might seem time-consuming to call up a company’s references, but this is one of the best ways to check if a company is professional and reliable.
Unfortunately, there can be a lot of dishonesty in the contracting industry—fake companies pop up, take deposits from new clients, and then disappear. Checking references is one of the best ways to check that a contractor has delivered on past projects.
When calling, ask the reference if the project was completed on time and on budget and if the company worked in a professional manner. You can also ask the reference if they’d be willing to work with the company again.
4. Having Unrealistic Expectations
Another common mistake is having unrealistic expectations when working with your contracting company—the right company can do a lot for you, but they aren’t miracle workers or mind readers.
Communication is essential for both parties, so you need to articulate exactly what you’re looking for in a projector. This helps ensure that the project is completed just as you envisioned it.
You’ll also want to set clear expectations on time. You might need a project done right away, but does the contracting company have availability?
Some companies might be booked up for months in advance, so don’t hire a contractor unless you’re sure of when they can start working.
5. Don’t Assume All Contractors Are Equal
Not all contractors are equal, which is why it’s so important to do your research when hiring. A common issue is companies taking shortcuts when it comes to materials, substituting cheaper alternatives that won’t last as long.
For example, stainless steel wire is used in many building projects, but some companies might cut corners and use inferior materials.
A good way to avoid selecting the wrong contractor is to ask plenty of questions and read reviews online. Ask your potential contractor where they source materials from, how long of a warranty they offer, and what qualifications their workers have.
Reading reviews from previous clients on unbiased websites like Yelp and Google Reviews can also help you work out the inferior companies from the skilled ones.
Avoid These Mistakes When Looking for the Right Construction Supply Company
Are you ready to build the custom home of your dreams? If so, you’ll want to avoid the mistakes above when hiring a construction supply company.
There are plenty of companies out there, but they aren’t all created equally. So, all homeowners should do plenty of research before making a selection.
Once you find the right contractor, you can sign a contract for the project and they can then get to work!mSoon, you’ll be enjoying your beautiful new home, just as you imagined.
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