Choosing Your Contractor

Choosing the right contractor can be a difficult task. The following checklist will assist you in choosing the contractor with the best qualifications for your project.

• Be sure the contractor has both Worker's Compensation insurance and General Liability insurance. While General Liability insurance is not required by law, it is a must if you want your contractor to be covered in case of a loss such as fire, rain, etc. Policy limits should not be less then $1,000,000. Obtain original Certificates Of Insurance to be sure all coverage is current.
  
  
• Ask if the contractor's sub-contractors carry the same insurances with at least the same policy limits.
  
  
• Check current references. It would be nice to see at least one job in person. Ask questions such as:
  
  

  1.	How easy was the communication with the contractor, his employees, and his sub-contractors?
  2.	Was your contractor available for phone and on-site meetings when necessary?
  3.	Did the contractor generate "extras" on the job that should have been in the original contract?
  4.	During extra work, did the contractor treat you fairly with regards to pricing?
  5.	Was the jobsite kept clean?
  6.	Did the contractor offer helpful and creative suggestions to help you through the decision making process?
  7.	Did the contractor work and communicate well with the architect?
  8.	How happy are you with the overall quality of the project?

  
  
• If more then one contractor is bidding your project, be sure they are bidding the same plans with the same options.
  
  
• When signing the contract, be sure there is a schedule of payments which clearly define how the contractor is to be paid.