Questions to Ask...
1.
Are you licensed? Most states require contractors, even
sub-contractors to be licensed. Make sure your basement remodeling
contractor is properly licensed. Anyone can say they are licensed.
Make the contractor prove it by either showing you the license or
giving you a copy of it. Remember to check the expiration date.
Being licensed is the law. If a contractor cannot produce a valid
license, DO NOT HIRE HIM! You can check the
contractor’s current licensing status with your states Secretary of
State.
2. Do you carry general
liability insurance?
Make sure your basement remodeling contractor carries general
liability insurance. This type of insurance protects your property
in case of damage caused by the contractor and/or his employees.
The insurance company will pay for the cost of replacing, and/or
repairing any damage that occurs. Anyone can say they are insured. Always
verify this information by calling the agency. A copy of an
insurance certificate does not let you know if the policy is still
current. Even if the certificate has an expiration date. you cannot
tell if the insurance has been canceled by either party.
Make the contractor prove it
by having a certificate of insurance.
3. Do you carry workers’
compensation insurance?
Make sure your basement remodeling
contractor carries workers’ compensation insurance. It protects you
from liability if a worker is injured while on your property. Be
aware that if the contractor does not carry workers’ compensation
coverage, you may be liable for any injuries suffered by the
contractor, or any of his employees on your property.
If the basement remodeling
contractor is a one-man operation, he can be exempt from having to
carry workers’ compensation insurance. If he is doing so legally,
he can provide you with a copy of his Construction Industry
Certificate of Exemption from Workers’ Compensation. This is
very risky for you though. If he shows up with a helper and the
helper gets hurt, with no workers’ compensation insurance, you may
have to pay the medical bills. If the uninsured contractor is
sloppy about verifying his sub-contractor’s workers’ compensation
insurance and the sub-contractor gets hurt, again you may have to
pay the medical bills. In short, it is much safer to deal with a
fully insured contractor.
4. Do you offer Financing?
Many Basement Remodeling Contractors are lender-approved
contractors. They have been approved and investigated by lenders as
being financially sound, maintaining satisfactory relationships with
suppliers, satisfactory credit and no outstanding complaints at the
Better Business Bureau.
5. Are you a member of NARI
or NAHB? NARI stands
for the National Association of the Remodeling Industry and NAHB
stands for the National Association of Home Builders. It’s always a
good idea to consider hiring a NARI or NAHB contractor. In most
cases, both organizations only attract conscientious contractors
interested in bettering the industry and in weeding out
unprofessional contractors. Some
employees may have been certified in remodeling or had special
training or education, such as earning a Certified Remodeler (CR),
Certified Remodeler Specialist (CRS) or Certified Lead Carpenter (CLC)
designation. In order to
become a member of NARI or NAHB, the contractor’s background and
references are thoroughly investigated.
6. Will you pull all the
required building permits?
Make sure your basement remodeling contractor pulls all required
permits. This is very important. When a contractor pulls the
required building permits, you know things will be done to “code."
Also, many homeowners insurance policies require pulling a permit on
any major remodeling to keep your home properly covered. Not all
contractors will do this. Many prefer not to pull permits because of
the time involved and the “hassle” with the inspectors. Some
contractors may ask you to get the permits. This could be a warning
sign that they are not able to pull the permit because they are
either unlicensed or the work is outside of their license. A
reputable contractor will permit every job where a permit is
required.
7. Do you guarantee your
work? Your basement
remodeling contractor should guarantee his work for at least one
year from date of completion. They should also include any
warranties from the material used if applicable.
8. Who will be in charge of
the job? Make sure the
contractor or his foreman is on the job whenever work is being
performed-especially if sub-contractors will be used. The
responsible party must be familiar with every aspect of your
project. You cannot be worried about what is going on when you are
not there.
9. Will you provide me with
written references? A
good basement remodeling contractor will be happy to provide you
with references, from both previous clients and existing business
referrals or suppliers. You should look for a well-established
contractor who can give you several customer references from the
last 6 months to one year. Ask how many projects like yours they
have completed within the last year. Ask for the name of the
contractor’s accountant or banker...you want to ensure the
contractor is financially sound and will not be declaring bankruptcy
in the middle of your project.
10. How do you handle “dirty
work”? Construction is
dusty and dirty! It gets everywhere, especially if any sanding is
being done. Make sure the basement remodeling contractor will make
an honest effort to keep the dust contained, or notify you when the
heavy dust generating operations will take place so you can place
sheets over furniture or move sensitive belongings. Make sure the
contractor agrees to sweep up and place all construction debris in a
predetermined place or refuse container at the end of every day.
The Official
Online Resource for Basement Remodeling. BasementRemodelingOnline.com
