Don Runnals, owner of Concept Builders in Lafayette, says it’s important to really know your contractor and reassure yourself that the relationship will be a comfortable one. “No matter what a contract says, many times it takes a working relationship to pull it off. In the end, having a good personal relationship with a contractor makes a major difference. It's like a small marriage. You're stuck in that house together, so it behooves you to pick someone you get along with.”
That rapport, says Mr. Runnals, doesn’t merely exist for its own sake. When a complicated project is at stake, he believes the relationship between homeowner and contractor can profoundly affect the quality of the end product.
To help secure a favorable price, Mr. Runnals recommends you get at least three to four bids for any project—and don’t automatically choose the cheapest. A bid that sounds too good to be true “might just be,” he says. Contractors who low-ball are probably compensating by cutting corners—not paying for insurance, for example. Because communication is the most critical factor in choosing a contractor, it's better to spend more and get someone with whom you're comfortable.
As you go through the process of choosing a contractor, don’t be reluctant to conduct some serious research. Check your local Better Business Bureau for any complaints. Call former clients to see if they were satisfied with their project. Most important, visit a current jobsite to see evidence of how the contractor works.
