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Hiring The Right Contractor Is An Important Design Decision

4/30/2020

15 Comments

 
Picture
UPDATE:  This has been one of our most popular posts and we've updated it with new information.  Check it out.  

Whether a single space or a complete home, remodeling any place isn't ever all that easy. There are many and numerous  decisions that need to be made.  

And we should know.  With more than 30 years of experience, we have assisted clients in making the right decisions and getting everything on a firm foundation to begin with.  

First of all,there are all those pesky decisions that need to be made and questions to be answered.
- What style and color?
- How much should this cost?
- Will it be worth the investment over time?
- How much of a disruption will there be in your life? 

But just as important a design decision is assembling your design team and that means hiring the contractor for the project.  Many clients we work with have great apprehensions about that part of the project and with good reason.  It isn't always easy to find the right mix of personality, workmanship, business ethics and reliability no matter the field or profession including the profession of general contracting.  Sometimes it is a gut reaction about how they presented themselves or the work they have done in the past.  After all, good client referrals should be an important deciding factor. 

But there are other ways to help make such important decisions and to make sure the relationship you build doesn't fall apart in the middle of the work.  

Here are some tips we wanted to share.

#1   Make all the design decisions that you can up front.  Decide all the things you hope for before you bring in the contractor,... even the little details.  Make a wish list of the things you'd "like to have" but are not able to commit to because you don't have all the information you need.  And if you don't have a clue at all about what might be possible, that is where we come in as your designers. 

#2 Request that contracting bids be submitted in writing with all the details and terms clearly explained. And of course, that would lead to having a written contract with a timeline, payment schedule and how changes to the work will be handled.

#3 Request the names of past clients who would be willing to let you see the work they have completed in the recent past.  That way you will be able to see the "fit and finish" of the work they have done.

#4 Before you sign on that dotted line, verify the license and make sure it is in good standing by visiting your state's governing license board.  In California, it is called: Contractors State License Board(CSLB) and you get get more information by going online to: www.cslb.ca.gov - or - calling (1) 800-321-2752. 

#5  Ask whether your contractor carries general liability insurance and worker's compensation for any directly hired employees.  Call your homeowner's insurance agent to ensure you are covered should some unforeseen circumstance occur such as water damage due to a broken pipe. 

#6  You might try to research your contractor's name online for additional reviews but you should also consider the source.  We have found that some referral sites are not as "accurate" as others so check more than one. 

#7  Any contractor performing $500 worth or work or more ( including materials and labor ) must be licensed by the CSLB to work in California.  Also, contractors cannot ask for a deposit of more than 10% of the total cost of the job or $1,000 at the inception of the project.

#8  Find out directly from your local building department whether your project needs a building permit and confirm that your contractor will obtain all necessary permits.

By following these tips and tricks, the decisions that you need to make will lay the foundation for a better remodeling project.  If you have questions or other concerns, you can post your comments below.  Or just give us a call and we'll do our best to start you out in the right direction.  (760) 322-3784  

15 Comments
James and Randall
3/30/2015 09:54:40 am

This is a great article and wish we would have read it about two months ago. Now we are "stuck" working with this handyman who only shows up when its handy for him to show up. Any advice at this point? Much appreciate your comments.

Reply
Michael A. Thomas, FASID
3/30/2015 10:08:12 am

James and Randall... Don't feel too bad. We've seen people hire some very interesting "handymen" in our day. • Our advice is as follows: First, call a meeting with your handyman ASAP. Tell him ( or her ) that you need to set a date by which a more than substantial part of the job will be done. And you need that in writing from him ( or her.)

Make sure you have made every single possible decision that you can so that he ( or she ) can't say that you delayed the job because he ( or she ) didn't have all the necessary information. And ask... "What other information do you need to complete this project by such and such a date."

Let him ( or her ) set the completion date and then hold him ( or her ) accountable as the work progresses, gently reminding... (OK... a regular prodding if needed)... that they were the ones to set the date and you are holding him ( or her ) to their word. Also, now is your chance to explain that you'll be perfectly happy to pay him ( or her ) every week - say on a Friday - and as the work gets done. Try to keep from paying anything upfront except for required materials.

And finally....take pictures of the work so you can document the progress. If you do get into a situation of "he said - she said" ... having pictures and dates will help should you need to pursue any legal action down the road. Hope that helps. • Michael T.

Reply
Janice Levy
3/30/2015 12:16:52 pm

One of the things I have discovered in my recent remodel is to never rush thru and try meet a specific deadline like a holiday. You are setting yourself up for disappointment. And it makes life miserable for the family and adds to the stress to get it all done. As one who has lived thru three big remodels, take your time and plan it right, and THEN if you hired the right contractor, every day...take a deep breath, pour yourself a glass and chill out till it is done. Just my opinion... but it is how I got thru them all.

Reply
Janice Levy
3/30/2015 12:21:05 pm

OOOPS... almost nearly forgot. You have to have an interior designer to help you thru all the design decisions. You can't know or see it all like a designer that does this for a living. And I am glad we met Michael T. and Michael B. because their experience really helped us make the most of our project. Thank you both for your efforts and I smile every time I walk thru the door.

Reply
Michael Thomas
4/1/2015 12:02:07 am

Janice.... you are right about not trying to set a specific deadline for a construction project. With some many variables in such projects, one should not commit to being done. But that doesn't mean one can't set a plan and a goal with a date in mind when things should be substantially wrapped up. And thanks for the compliment. Your projects are never easy ones but the results are always amazing.

Reply
Paul and Pennie
4/1/2015 08:16:28 am

Great advice on hiring a contractor. Really appreciate this information especially because we just bought a house and need to pull out the kitchen and the big bathroom and start over. But have a question: Who do I hire first, some designer like you,... or find a contractor first then hire you? What comes first - the chicken or the egg - I guess is my question.

Reply
Michael Thomas
4/1/2015 11:37:55 pm

Paul and Pennie... in answer to your question, who do you hire first,... think about it this way. Suppose you came down with some illness and you need to find a solution. Would you go to the pharmacy or to a physician to find out what's wrong?

It is the same with a remodeling project. Start by figuring our what is needing to be fixed or what you want to accomplish by seeking out design help. Then once you have firm ideas, take them to three contractors and ask for proposals from each. Hope that makes sense.

Reply
Barbara + Aaron
3/31/2016 06:45:42 pm

Michael... Just how do you go about finding a contractor? We are struggling with even getting people to call us back. And it is not like this will be a small project. What are your tricks of the trade?

Reply
Michael A Thomas
3/31/2016 07:24:27 pm

Barbara and Aaron... Thank you for checking out our blog. Finding good people is an ongoing challenge for many people no matter a hairdresser, dentist or tile installer. We do hear that question frequently and it seems even more now as the economy picks up speed.

• A few things to keep in mind: The smaller the city where you live, the smaller the labor pool so you must be diligent. Plus the very best contractors are always busy because they have loyal customers who are passing them on to friends and family. Be prepared to wait for good people.

• After 3 decades of professional practice, we do have five tricks to share.

(1) First...Ask Around. Neighbors, friends, other family members can provide trusted sources for all sorts of tradespeople. And don't forget the other professionals that you hire such as your dentist, real estate professional or accountant.

(2) Use Online Referral Services. You probably know Angies List but a new one is Thumbtack.com. Go online, type in what you are looking for and in under a day, you should be provided with information from the local building community. (NOTE: Do read online reviews of their work using Yelp, Google and Facebook.)

(3) Call a local building and/or design association for help in locating a contractor. Those who take the effort to join some group and pay their membership dollars are probably more professional in their business endeavors, too.

(4) Drive around the "upscale" neighborhoods during the workday and see what trucks are parked on the streets. Many will have lettering or signs on their vehicles. One of the best tile installers we know was working a few doors down from a project and we just decided to introduce ourselves to he and his crew.

(5) Finally...You can hire a design professional, like us, to help shortcut the process.. We are constantly adding to our "Rolodex" of vendors, contractors and installers. Because we are a fairly steady source of their business, most - not all - will get usually back with us in a reasonable amount of time because they like how we team together for a project.

BTW: does anyone really use a Rolodex anymore?

Reply
Donna and Stan
8/27/2017 03:10:46 pm

Really enjoy your comments and suggestions. We've never worked with a designer before so this clears up a lot of questions in our mind about why we might need to consider your services. Do you offer a consultation at our place?

Reply
Michael Thomas, FASID
8/27/2017 03:12:33 pm

Donna... hiring any professional whether an attorney, accountant, architect starts with creating a plan to guide the discussions and then the design concepts that follow. Yes.. we provide a one hour complimentary review of your project. Your place or ours. Let me know if we can be of help.

Reply
Elaine and Bob
6/24/2018 03:11:00 pm

Thanks for all this information and really appreciated meeting you and your team players... we are about ready to start the kitchen project with you so make sure you leave time in your schedule when we return to the desert. Many thanks again for all your brilliant ideas. You and Mike are really great to work with.

Reply
Terry
10/24/2019 01:19:00 pm

Just spoke with Michael (business partner) about my frustration with finding a contractor and he mentioned some of the things above. I have been to four *licensed* contractors/flooring companies now who’ve all told me that they require 100% payment up-front. When I told them what the Contractors State License Board says about that, they said they don’t have to follow that because they have a Blanket Performance Bond (only 24 contractors in California have this). They don’t....they only have a $15k bond. I see on the CSLB that contractors’ licenses have been revoked for doing what these four contractors have told me, but my focus is on the fact that, if they don’t care about what their own licensing board says about deposits and up-front payments, they probably won’t care about anything else that matters when they’re ripping my house apart. They could all have the best reputations around, but if my house floods or burns down, I don’t want my insurance company to be able to deny the claim because something wasn’t done to code and/or permitted. When a contractor doesn’t care about what they’re allowed to charge up-front and are willing to risk losing their license over it, they probably don’t care about the quality of their work on your house, codes, or permits, either.

Reply
Stan and Jim
8/13/2020 06:46:19 pm

We've been remodeling a home we bought right before the Covid-19 thing started and it has NOT been easy to find anyone even willing to come by and see the scope of what we want to do. Are they just that afraid of catching something or just too busy? What do you know?

Reply
Michael Thomas, FASID, CAPS link
8/13/2020 07:18:54 pm

Stan + Jim...The issues you appear to be going thru isn't something new. Finding good help and getting designs implemented is 66.66% of the battle. But yes... it is especially difficult to find those special talented crews when there is so much demand to renovate and restore. AND,....It is a small valley, there is a small labor pool anyways and the good people are usually always busy.

So when we find great trades people, our business philosophy is to team with them, include them in as many projects as we can, ensuring in some measure, a sense of loyalty to us and a source of work in the future. They also know - over time - the same sets of trades we bring to a job and the folks begin to work well together because they get to know each other.

It just takes time + effort to get the right crews assembled - Covid-19 or not.

Reply



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    Michael A. Thomas, FASID interior designer in Phoenix and Scottsdale, AZ
    ................................................. • Michael A. Thomas, CAPS, FASID is a passionate interior designer that constantly examines the impact design has on the human experience.
    Michael is an award winning interior designer based in Palm Desert, CA. He is a  Professional Member of the American Society of Interior Designers and a member of the ASID College of Fellows.  

    As a Certified Aging In Place Specialist, he creates smart looking spaces that are safe and secure and create homes for a lifetime.

    And with thirty plus years in the profession, he has honed his humor, elevated his passion for design and sharpened his wit to not take anything too seriously except his design work. 
    View my profile on LinkedIn

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