The success of a project can hinge on the communication skills of everyone involved.

The good contractor understands the value and importance of clear communication. They should value your questions and practice clear communication. Furthermore, a good contractor makes sure there are no misunderstandings and asks for feedback on a regular basis. 

You can get a good sense of a contractor’s communication style and attentiveness to your needs early on. Their initial proposal can be a good indicator about how intentionally they have listened to you about your budget and preferences.

However, communication is still vital as a project progresses. Since most of our beach projects are second homes or investment properties, most of our clients don’t live in the home. This presents a unique challenge in communication. Good contractors constantly seek to keep the client informed of the progress, and you should expect reports and pictures of your project as it progresses.

Having a communicative contractor is important, but you should always make sure to communicate your needs as well. Whenever there is a question, you should feel comfortable asking your contractor and visiting the site at your convenience to discuss your thoughts and dreams. There is no such thing as a bad question. If you’re not sure, ASK!

Through good communication, you can be sure to get the desired result!

If you have never done a major home renovation or don’t have an established relationship with a contractor, finding the right one can seem like a daunting task. However, a contractor’s reputation can be a good indicator when deciding if he or she is a good fit.

A reputation is something that sticks with a contractor for years. It takes years of reliable work, many satisfied customers, and enduring relationships with suppliers to build up a good reputation. Good contractors are willing to share their reputation with future clients.

The best contractors have many references, have testimonials from past customers with projects like yours, and exhibit a history of pleasing customers and completing jobs in a satisfactory manner. A printed list of references should always be available upon request. At Beach House Miracles, we have asked many of our clients in advance if they are willing to be contacted, and many other contractors do the same.

Additionally, the reference list should include other local professionals, such as realtors and property managers, whose own reputation is on the line with a reference. Our reference list consists of the client’s first name and an email address to protect the client’s privacy. Our professional references provide more information.

If you are hiring a contractor, make sure you know who you are working with and that they can deliver quality services to fit your needs. Researching their reputation is a great place to start.

Hiring a contractor to work on your home is an investment, but it is not without risk. Good contractors pay attention to the details of your needs and guarantee the quality of their work. Both of these qualities should be evident in their project price estimate and the warranty they offer.

The Estimate

A good contractor will not put a dollar amount on the back of a business card and hand it to you. They should prepare a complete proposal that refers to the scope of work. It should be broken down in different areas with the price clearly indicated and the brands and models spelled out.

A good contractor should also help you establish a budget that you are comfortable with. They should share design ideas and help you understand how your decisions and different materials affect the cost. The best contractor will listen to you and be respectful of your budget.

Beware of contractors who refuse to give a written estimate or contract. Verbal statements never hold up in court.

Warranties

Most reputable contractors offer a standard one-year warranty on their labor and a minimal manufacturer’s warranty on materials. You can test a contractor’s commitment to quality work by their willingness to provide a warranty for materials and labor. 

Generally, the longer the warranty, the better the quality and the more attention the contractor will place on doing the work right.

A good contractor will also provide their warranty in writing. A sample of our three-year warranty is always available prior to a written construction agreement.

Making sure your contractor understands your needs in the written estimate and getting a warranty will make sure your project is completed with skill and diligence.

Not all home improvement projects require a permit, but many do. Whenever there is mechanical, electrical, plumbing or structural work being done, a permit is great protection for the owner. 

Getting a permit allows you to have a third-party inspect your property and keep contractors honest in their pricing and quality of work. Some less-than-reputable contractors offer “time delay” as an excuse not to get permits and inspections, but this is usually far from the truth. 

Inspections give the owner an independent person to look at the work being done and enforce codes for the local jurisdictions. This is for your safety. Projects that do not meet code standards can be a danger to you and your family and can cause delays in project completion. Getting an already completed project up to code also can cost far more in the long run. Most code enforcement follows the International Building Code (IBC), but local codes vary in every city and town. Having a permit qualifies homeowners for inspections from professionals familiar with national, state, and local building requirements.

In short, having a permit can ensure you are not in violation of local laws and can protect you from contractors trying to cut corners.

All contractors understand how important price is for consumers. You should always seek bids from multiple contractors, but only considering price overlooks other factors that should affect your decision. For you to be able to compare price, all the bids must be for the same project, the same products, the same specifications, and the same quality of work.

Homeowners rarely provide an invited bidder with plans and a specific set of bid documents. Instead, they meet with potential contractors individually so the other bidders don’t know who else is bidding. The proposals homeowners receive represent each contractor’s interpretation of what the owner explained, often making it impossible to compare the bids by price alone.

Most contractors will try very hard to give you what you want at the price you want to pay. They will even find cheap products and inexpensive subcontractors to help you meet your budget. However, remember that the bid is only the starting point in your negotiations with the contractor – not necessarily the bottom line.

Keep in mind that the lowest bid may not necessarily be the best bid. An unusually low bid may be cause for alarm.

In this case, the contractor may not fully understand the scope of work; may be inexperienced and is underestimating the amount of labor and materials required; or may be planning to cut corners by using inferior materials, low-paid, inexperienced workers, or not following local building codes. You could end up paying to repair or replace work much sooner than if your project was done right the first time with qualified workers and quality materials. 

So, while price is an important consideration, always make sure to consider the other factors surrounding a bid. The bitterness of poor quality and service remains long after the sweetness of the low price is forgotten!

When a contractor says they re insured, it means they are covered for liability purposes.

In other words, if they damage your home by fire, breaking a water pipe, or even hitting underground lines – they are insured for the damage they caused. If you or someone else is injured due to negligence by the contractor, the contractor s liability coverage will cover the cost. There are usually state-mandated minimums of insurance required. Depending on the state, insurance limits can be minimal and might not cover the cost of the damage.

However, just because a contractor has Insurance does not mean he is a good fit for your project. You still need to shop around.

Liability insurance does not cover a bad job. Often, the only recourse the owner has is to take the contractor to court. Going to court can be costly and does not always get you the results you are looking for. It is always best to choose a contractor with years of experience successfully satisfying their clients. Ask to see their work, speak to their clients, and look to other professionals in the area for information about their reputation. Check with the Better Business Bureau and the Chamber of Commerce.

You should feel absolutely comfortable in the competence of the contractor you choose. Finding one with years of experience successfully satisfying clients is always a good start.