As a homeowner, you can hire tradespeople directly, saving the markup that a contractor charges for his services. But, if you’re planning an extensive project, such as building or remodeling a house, you’ll probably want a general contractor. Call several and pre-qualify them on the phone by asking the following questions:
If they answer “yes” to all of the above, request a meeting and ask them to bring along names and phone numbers of satisfied customers and, if possible, photographs of successful work.
When each general contractor arrives, look for clues to his or her professionalism. Are they wearing a uniform or dressed appropriately for their trade? Is their truck well maintained?
During the meeting:
Don’t jump on the lowest bid. If one bid is substantially lower than the others, the candidate may be inexperienced or intends to cut corners. Probe to find out why that bid is low (a common cause is vague specifications).
Beyond the bids, there are still several important considerations that can make or break your project.
Generally, it’s not a good strategy to supply ordinary building materials for a home repair or improvement project. Few professionals, if any, will guarantee the performance of materials they didn’t obtain themselves. Most tradespeople and contractors can buy building materials at a discount and may pass some of their savings along to you, but you should expect a reasonable markup for their expenses.