Questions to ask your potential remodeling contractor

Five good ones, five better ones, one best one (by Thorn Jarvis)

Good question #4: Who will be working on my home? Are they professional tradespeople or day laborers? Employees or sub-contractors? How long have they worked for you? Can I trust them in my home?

Better question #4: Who will be working on my project – at my house and in your office? The difference between this question and the “good” one is that it recognizes you’re paying for more than the people who show up at your house. Behind them should be support staff, helping organize and coordinate the work. When you call the office, do you get a helpful person or an answering machine message? Will everything you discussed with your previous company contact person get accurately conveyed to the people doing the work on site? Will the right people, with the right materials and equipment, show up when you were told to expect them? Coordination and communication are critical to a successful remodeling project.