SEATTLE, Feb. 16, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Porch.com (http://porch.com), the home network for homeowners and home professionals, today shared tips for homeowners in the market for a remodeling contractor.
"Hiring the right contractor can make a difference in terms of safety, budget and stress," explains Anne Reagan, Editor in Chief of Porch. "So it is very important that homeowners do their research and ask the right questions when hiring a contractor."
1. Know the Types of Contractors
There are many types of contractors based upon the type of labor, or project, they perform. For example, there are closet contractors, concrete contractors, roofing contractors, swimming pool contractors, etc. If you're looking for a specific task to be completed, like drywall, look for a drywall contractor. If you need to remodel a whole room, like a kitchen, you can search for a kitchen contractor, remodeling contractor or a general contractor.
2. Verify Bonding and Insurance
Bonding means that the homeowner has some assurances of being financially protected or reimbursed from work that is incomplete or subcontractors that weren't paid. It's a level of protection for the homeowner. Licensing is a means of protecting the contractor, and homeowner, against liability and accidents. Similar to car insurance, a contractor who injures himself or herself, your home or property, or gets into an accident on the job, will have the insurance to cover damages.
3. Don't Go By Price
You will get a lot of estimates from contractors, but don't let price be the deciding factor. If you go with the cheapest, you could be getting the cheapest work. Get several estimates and make sure they are itemized (time, materials, permitting costs, etc.) so you can compare various quotes fairly.
4. Pick Contractors with Solid Crews
Contractors do a lot of work themselves, but they also hire subcontractors for areas they aren't experts in, such as plumbing or electrical. Make sure the contractor you work with has a set team of subcontractors they use and they know their work well.
5. Ask For Referrals and Follow Up on Them
Ask for the referrals from the contractor and actually call the references they provide. Talk to their past clients about price and whether or not the contractor stayed on budget. Discuss how long the project took and if it was in the timeframe given by the contractor. Inquire about the contractor's style of communication and being able to convey how the project was going.
For homeowners who decide to hire a remodeling contractor, they can visit Porch's City Pages that will direct them to professionals that their neighbors and friends have used. The links below will take homeowners to Porch's remodeling contractors specific City Pages.
About Porch
Porch is the home network, free for homeowners and home professionals. With over 3.2 million professionals and over 130 million projects, Porch enables homeowners to make smart home improvement decisions by giving them the information they need to find the right professionals, get inspiration, and manage their home. The Porch App, a first of its kind app available for iOS gives homeowners direct access to a personal Porch Concierge to help find the best professionals for your home. For more information about Porch, visit http://porch.com and to download the Porch App at http://porch.com/app
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