INTERVIEWING GARAGE CONTRACTORS

Regardless of why you’re considering a project with a garage contractor you need to be prepared. Let’s break down the list of questions into categories:

Experience
Contracts
Permits
Job specifics

EXPERIENCE

Ideally you want to work with a contractor who has the experience necessary to complete your project on time and on budget. Regardless of how you grade the contractor try to be up front with any questions or concerns you have. They will appreciate the opportunity to address your concerns.

How long have you been in business? (Contractors who go into business often have been in the trade for many years. You might want to clarify this.)

Do you have a contracting license? (Cities, states and even counties have different requirements for contractors getting licensed. Make sure that the contractor has gone through all of the necessary channels to obtain any required certifications specific to their field of expertise.)

Do you work with a dedicated team? (Contracting companies often work on multiple projects at a time, so it’s important to verify that you can count on consistency in who comes to work on your home each day.)

PERMITS

If you are building a garage or perhaps remodeling it you will most likely need local building permits. This includes all proper building inspections during the process and after the project is completed.

Can the costs of all permits be added into your bid? (Permits should be pulled and issued in the Contractor’s name not yours. If the contractor hesitates it may indicate a red flag. Perhaps they have issues working in the city or are not licensed. Ask clarifying questions.)

Do you have experience in my locality pulling permits? (You should hire an experienced, locally licensed contractor who does quality work and knows the system. A properly licensed contractor must meet certain qualifications to pull a permit.

CONTRACTS

Can you add “start and end dates” into my contract? (The point is that you both have an understanding of when work will commence and approximately when it will get completed.)

Addressing changes to your contract: (No changes to the original scope of work can happen until your contractor has given you clear description, costs, and what it does to the schedule. Change orders should be done in written format: email, pen & ink.

Grace period to rescind your contract: (Some states allow for the homeowner three days rescinding their contract without penalty. If you’re not in one of these states you can request this to be added in. This helps prevent you from losing your deposit if something goes wrong early on.)

Can you add language into my contract that removes any liens? (Any professional that comes into your home as part of the crew has the ability to put a lien on your house claiming they were not paid. Request and ask about lien waivers as you make each installment.)

Contracts are obviously important. You have room to negotiate and add in items you want in there.

How do you provide a description of the work? (Make sure it outlines all of the work, materials, and products that will go into the job.

How are you paid? (This includes how often as well as the total price for the project. Contractors often create project milestones. Make sure they clearly define these.

JOB SPECIFICS

Here the idea is to get a picture of how the contractor will run your project. Are they responsive, what does a typical day look like? How Responsible are they?

What is your working day like? (Whether you are at home all day or at work it’s important to know what to expect during construction days.) Contractors.

How do you cleanup at the end of the day? (Set the expectation that the contractor and his/her crew will clean up at the end of every day. Trash, nails on the floor or ground, cleanup work surfaces, vacuum etc.)

How will you protect my property? (This is typically a given that a contractor will do this but you have the right to ask it. Just try and be respectful when posing these questions.)

How and where will you store tools? (If your job requires multiple days or weeks ask the contractor where they will store and keep their tools. How will they be transported?)