Thinking of building a new home? : Rooftop Views

Rooftop Views

Thinking of building a new home?

Eric Bramlett of One Source Realty in Austin, Texas has the following tips for anyone thinking of building a home and hiring a contractor to do it.

When you decide to build a home rather than to buy a home, or when you make the decision to remodel the home you already have, you most likely intend to get the job done with the help of contractor. Unfortunately, contractors have earned a somewhat bad reputation because some have failed to live up to their contracts or provide the quality of work homeowners expect. In order to keep yourself from being disappointed by your contractor, it is important that you follow these simple tips.

Tip 1: Ask Your Friends and Family

The single best way to select a contractor is to ask around. If your friends or family members have worked with a contractor who did a good job for them, you should put that contractor high on your list. The more recently the friend or family member hired a contract to work on their home the better. After all, if a contractor just did a great job a few months ago, he or she is likely to still be able to provide the same level of service.

Tip 2: Check References

Of course, you may not know anyone who has recently purchased real estate or who remodeled their homes. If this is the case, you won't have much of a starting point when choosing a contractor. Therefore, it is essential to check the references provided by the contractor. Ideally, you should check into references for finished jobs as well as for jobs in progress. This way, you can check out real estate in varying levels of completion in order to determine the quality of the work.

Before you buy the services of a contractor, you should also talk with some of the references. Ask the references important questions, such as:

How well did the contractor stay on schedule?
How happy were you with your real estate when the job was completed?
Did you feel as if the contractor listened to you when you ran into a problem?
Were your concerns easily resolved?

Talking with past clients is an excellent way to get an idea of the type of work the contractor does as well as his level of commitment to customer satisfaction.

Tip 3: Check the Contractor's License

If you are going to buy the services of a contractor, you certainly want someone who is properly educated. Before you sign a contract and buy materials for the job, check with your state's Contractor's State License Board. By checking with the board, you can confirm whether the contractor is licensed and you can also find out the contractor's areas of specialty.

When checking on licensing, ask the contractor for his or her pocket license as well as another form of identification. Then, check the license against the other form of identification in order to make sure the names match up. Because it is illegal for a contractor to use another contractor's license, a reputable contractor will have matching identification.

Tip 4: Make Sure the Contractor is Insured

As the buyer, you shouldn't be expected to buy insurance to cover the job. Rather, the contractor should have insurance in place. Check to make sure the contractor is insured against property damage, worker's compensation and personal liability. Ask for a copy of the certificate of insurance to verify coverage, as this will protect you if something goes wrong while on the job. Deciding to buy real estate in order to build your own home or to remodel your current home can be an exciting time in your life. Make sure you do your homework before selecting a contractor in order to prevent your dream from turning into a nightmare.