Red Apple Renovations, Inc.

Important Considerations when Hiring Any Contractor

(Q) Should my Contractor be licensed?

(A) Many people call themselves Contractors. And in New Hampshire, for example, a license is not required to perform work on your property, so anyone can call themselves a “contractor” but have had no verification of their expertise. Licensing assures you of a Contractor that has successfully passed a test verifying their expertise in the profession, and one who has successfully retained that license. Licensing requirements for Construction Contracting in Massachusetts are found on the website of the Massachusetts Department of Public Safety. To find out if a Contractor is properly licensed in Massachusetts, click here and click on “search for a license” and follow the instructions from there. If you cannot find the person you are looking for, ask your prospective Contractor to produce a copy of their license for you. If they cannot do that, chances are this person is not licensed as a contractor in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts requires a Construction Supervisor license and a Home Improvement Contractor license for most substantial home improvement projects. Make sure your contractor has both.

(Q) Should my Contractor be insured?

(A) The short answer is “Yes”. There are several different types of insurance that your contractor should hold. Liability Insurance covers items for which the Contractor is directly liable. For example, if the contractor or his employees damage your property while he is performing work, this insurance would cover such an event.

The second type of insurance a Contractor should carry is Workers Compensation Insurance. Workers Compensation Insurance protects you and the Contractor’s employees. If an employee of the Contractor becomes injured, disabled or killed while working on your property, Worker’s Compensation insurance will cover this event. If the Contractor does not carry Workers Compensation Insurance, the home owners could be sued to pay for all the medical bills, disability, or lose of life if an accident occurs on your property.

The third type of insurance is Automobile Insurance. Although everyone must hold this insurance, your Contractor must be able to provide this information to you as well.

Ask to see a Certificate of Insurance document, which shows you that the Contractor holds these three types of insurance in good standing.

(Q) Does it matter how long the Contractor has been in business?

(A) Many a talented carpenter has started their own business, only to close it in the first year or two. As with any business, it takes more than technical talent to run a successful company. If a Contractor has been established in your community for 5 years or more, chances are he has established some good business practices, runs the business professionally, and will provide you with professional and reliable services. There are many “bad contractor stories” out there about homeowners who have hired a less-established Contractor who provided the lower bid, only to have that Contractor either abandon the project, or go out of business in the middle of it.

(Q) Should I go with the Contractor that gives " free" estimates? Why would I want to pay for a Design or Deposit Agreement if I can get an estimate for free?

(A) Unfortunately most things that are free are worth exactly what you paid for them. Use caution if a Contractor is willing to give you a free estimate for a project that involves any type of design work. A Contractor willing to do this:

• May not value his own time (which speaks to the professionalism of the company, and how you and your time may be treated during a project)
• May not fully appreciate the analysis required in order to arrive at a true and accurate contract price (which means you may be presented with a very low initial contract price, but find that many “overruns” and “unforeseen conditions” arise during the project, which can greatly drive up your costs in the long run)
• May be desperate for the work and desperate to get your business (warning!)

A Professional Contractor will ask for a retainer to perform design and or budgeting services for you. Each remodeling or building project is different, and there are no pricing books that can provide easy and accurate pricing. The Contractor that asks for this retainer is more likely to provide you with a much more accurate contract price.

(Q) Should I get competitive pricing?

(A) When it comes to pricing of just about anything, the universal truth remains:

It always costs more than you thought it would.

Price shopping can be a long and tedious process which may not yield accurate comparisons. Because different Contractors will see your project from different experience levels and perspectives, and may consider different quality materials or factor in more up-to-date techniques and tools as a basis for their price quote, no two bids will be exactly the same. It is extremely difficult to compare apples to apples when it comes to contractor pricing differences.

The best advice is to find a Contractor with a good reputation, a professional staff, and an ability to listen to what you want. You will be spending a lot of time with the Contractor and his staff, so you want to feel comfortable with them.

(Q) Should the Contractor provide a warranty for work performed?

(A) Warranties are important. If the Contractor does not provide a written warranty statement you may never see him again if something needs to be adjusted or repaired. Proceed with caution with the Contractor who does not have the pride, commitment and confidence in the product he delivers to provide a warranty for it.

(Q) What should I be expected to manage throughout the project?

(A) Each contracting company works differently and may expect you to be more hands-on in the details than you may wish to be. Be sure to ask if you will be responsible for obtaining a permit, being available for inspector visits, scheduled deliveries, or to let subcontractors into your home.

There is a good deal to be said for working with a company who will manage these and the hundreds of other details that come up during a project. A professional contracting company will usually manage all of these details and more as part of their total customer service to you, allowing you to focus on the details that you wish to be more involved in.

(Q) Who should obtain the building permit?

(A) For all projects in Massachusetts that require a building permit, it should be obtained by your Contractor. This ensures that his insurance and licensing qualifications are reviewed during the permit application process. Having your Contractor obtain the building permit also allows the homeowner to make a claim against the Residential Contractors Guaranty Fund if there are problems with your project.

(Q) What kind of communication should I expect from my Contractor?

(A) As with any service or product you purchase, you want to feel as though your needs are fully understood. You should expect nothing less from your Contractor. Your Contractor should provide to you all of the ways in which he will communicate with you, and ask your preference. For example, if you prefer using email, your Contractor should be able to communicate to you in this way. If you are away from home and want to see pictures of the progress being made, your Contractor should be able to provide digital images to you. You should have a phone number available to you for after-hour emergencies. In short, you should be able to reach your Contractor when you need to.

(Q) What will I need to have ready before I contact a Contractor?

(A) Before a budget can be developed for your project, you need to have a basic idea of what you want to do. Some Contractors offer Design Services that can take your ideas and dreams from concept, to detailed plans, to the completed project. These services are typically offered at a fraction of the cost of architects or structural engineers. Additionally, many Contractors offer the option to work with their own team of designers, architects, and engineers, who are familiar with the company and the quality of their work. These teams of professionals can save you many frustrating hours of delay, miscommunication, rework, and even travel to and from multiple office locations – they provide a one-stop shop to access the professionals you need to create certified plans that the Contractor can follow to assure that you get exactly what you are seeking.

If you already have plans that you love and are seeking only the “build” side of things, your Contractor should be able to analyze these plans, offer suggestions, assure their accuracy and structural safety, and follow them to completion of your project.