Guide To Choosing Your Perfect Contractor

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Remodeling any part of your home can seem like an insurmountable task

Whether thanks to a budget or that enormous list of to-dos, remodeling is something most of us hold off on as long as possible.

But…how long would you wait if you had a contractor you really trusted? Can you imagine a perfect world where you feel SO confident in your contractor that you’re actually excited to get that remodel underway?

…Isn’t that what you deserve, anyway?

The key to completing a remodeling project is selecting the right team of experts to take care of the job. You won’t have to worry about it. You’ll get the right guidance to fly through the decisions. And you’ll feel proud of the end result.

We’ve crafted a practiced set of steps that lead homeowners to that perfect client-contractor relationship. It’s a resource you can use to find the professional best suited for you who not only brings you quality and expertise but a sense of peace.

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Know what you want

Step 1

It’s something many don’t articulate when they’re shopping for contractors, but it’s crucial that you have a vision for your project from the word “go.” You won’t be picking out the finishing details until you have your remodeler, but deciding what you want remodeled and what expectations you already have will help you define the scope of the project and find the remodeler prepared to meet your needs.

Part of knowing what you want is also knowing how much you want to spend. Have your budget decided. Contractors hear all the time, "we don’t know how much it costs, but we all have a limit as to what we will spend."

Think of it like you would if you were car shopping—you won’t visit Lamborghini and tell them your budget is that of a Toyota. Just realize that home improvement TV shows are for entertainment, and online you will get a more realistic variety of pricing that will give you a good idea of what to plan for, but keep in mind that every project will be different. Be sure to use all your resources to make this call on budget, like this great cost vs. value article: https://bit.ly/2rsiHDJ.

Step 2Aren’t all contractors the same?

You might be thinking all contractors or remodelers are the same. Well, they aren’t. Let's look at the major different types.A handyman is someone who’s going to come out and make minor changes. Maybe you need to install a new faucet, change out some light fixtures, or switch the hardware on your cabinets. Handymen won't be in your home for days on end and typically don’t have the experience to do a full remodel—and most of them shouldn’t!A general contractor will be able to do whatever you can dream up. They will have relationships with licensed trades and engineers and be familiar with what different cities require regarding code. If you don’t know what you want or need help in making selections, they may have “someone” they can send you to for help.A design/build remodeler will be able to help you every step of the way on any project. From taking your ideas and creating a design that you can really see to helping you make selections and walking you through the whole process. Most times, they will have interior designers on staff as well, and will always have ideas that you’ve never thought of due to their design expertise.

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Do phone interviews

Step 3

Step 4

Be prepared to spend quite a bit of time on the phone with a company. You don’t want someone “just to come out” to take a look. You want to get an idea of who they are and how they run their company, and you need to develop a rapport and get a sense of trust before you invite them into your home.

And so you don’t waste your time, ask the company what the range of time and prices is for projects like yours. Just remember, with small businesses, NO ONE runs their business the same way, so you might get a-one page “free” estimate from one while another company may charge you for a more complete design and proposal.

You know that "nothing in life is ever free." This raises some important questions when choosing your project professionals. If you are going to pay for design, what should that include? Who works with you? Is it a formally-educated interior designer or a decorator? Do they send you places or actually go with you to make selections? And do you get a 3-D design where you can actually see your selections and see YOURSELF in them? Can changes be done right then and there so you can really visualize your options in your home?

Do your research

You’ve determined what type of contractor or remodeler is right for you. Now is the time to get recommendations. Word-of-mouth is the most powerful tool when you begin to sort through contractors, and in the digital era, social networks have facilitated even more recommendations. You can also check in with the National Association of the Remodeling Industry for a list of members in your area. Using these tools to narrow your options will definitely pay off.

Start with third-party survey companies and review pages like GuildQuality to read reviews from other homeowners. Remember that your goal at this stage is to filter down to the contractors who have left a trail of happy customers and completed projects.

Pay special attention to how the contractor handles any complaints. Do they reply? If they’re cordial and work to resolve an issue online, you can expect similar treatment during your project.

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Look for well-defined proposals

Step 6Step 5

You’ve determined what you’d like done. You’ve done the research on what type of contractor you’ll actually need. And you’ve done your phone interviews. Now it’s time to meet with the company or companies in YOUR home. Review the frequently asked questions included on pages 8 and 9 of this booklet. Your most important goals in this process are to determine if the company has the skills needed to complete your project, listens to what YOU want, can complete your project in the timeframe YOU need, and can also complete it in a timely manner. You don’t want a six-week project to run on for three months.And last, go with your gut...who do you TRUST the most? Do they seem to be upfront with you, or just appear to be selling you? Do they talk badly about other companies? And, the absolutely crucial factor, do they LISTEN to you, take all your ideas and then tell you they’re going to come up with a plan and move forward from that?That sounds really great, right? But did they ask you about your budget? Did they talk any type of pricing with you? If not, how do they know what to design for you? And what about all your selections? Are they included in your design? These are the best questions to cover in your in-home consultations.

How to choose?Through your research and your interviewing, you may find that you’re really confused! Remember when we said that all companies will run differently? As part of your in-home consultation, you should understand:

• each of their processes• HOW they develop scopes of work and proposals• the process for completing your project• who will actually be doing the work • and how do they handle problems

With remodeling, there will always be issues that come up, but how are they handled? Do they have a process? Do they have examples?

And I’m sure you’ve heard that you really need to get three bids, but by now you should really have a “gut” feeling of who you’d actually like to work with—who you REALLY trust. If you feel that you really need to get three “free” estimates, be careful as you’ll be comparing apples to oranges! When reviewing estimates, is that one-page free estimate giving you all the details? Have you really determined what’s going into your project so you have an exact cost? Or is the estimate full of allowances, leaving a lot of unknown costs?

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Be upfront

Create a payment schedule

Step 7

Step 8

If you want your contractor or remodeler to be honest and upfront with you, do the same with them. If they ask you how much you want to spend on your project, tell them. If that's really uncomfortable for you, ask them where they see the project falling. It may be a wide range, but you’ll know if what you want to spend is in that ballpark.

In order for your contractor or remodeler to provide a design and scope of work for you, it’ll be a huge waste of time—not to mention a huge disappointment for you—if they come back with a beautiful design that you’ve just fallen in love with, and what you wanted to spend is half the price!

Also, if you don’t want anyone in your home after 5pm, let them know. Share with them your decision-making process, too...are you someone that wants to see everything "out there" to keep a pulse on every element? Or are you someone that gets totally overwhelmed by the details and you really need them to narrow information down for you? Your contractor or remodeler should make the process easy and exciting for you! You’ve decided to remodel, you’re investing in what is probably one of the biggest purchases you’ll ever make...you definitely want to have that WOW factor when it's all done!

As your project rolls out, how are payments handled? You should NEVER give someone a large amount down for a remodel project. Some companies operate on a weekly payment schedule, others may be by project "milestone" dates. However, the most common practice is a pay-as-work-is-done arrangement. For example, you may have a down payment that will cover materials that need to be purchased upfront, along with permits, etc. On day one of the project, another payment is normally due to commence demolition. From there, depending on the size and scope of your project, you may have multiple payments due with the final payment at substantial completion of your project.

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Write it down: Contract docs

Step 10Step 9

Scope of your projectIs there a detailed scope for your project? Have all the selections been made with the pricing included? Is each step of your project laid out so you understand what will take place? Is this scope one or two pages or multiple pages?

Every detail should be laid out in the formal scope of work for your project—from permitting, material and debris removal, insurance, all the selections you’ve made, down to the final cleaning at the end of your project.

A professional and detailed scope of work will be multiple pages in length. Ask your contractor or remodeler what happens with “surprises” along the way, too. This includes improper building techniques previously used, or maybe you have water damage or a bug infestation you didn't know about. Make sure you understand how project scope changes are handled.

Whew! You’ve selected your remodeler, you’ve made your selections, the design is done and you’ve agreed on the total remodel!

Now come the contract docs. Make sure everything is laid out in the contract, including the total cost of the project, how project changes are made, specific requirements for the city and state where you live, and what documents you might see during the project.

For instance, how and when will you receive project draw requests? When are they due? What does that document look like? Is there an All Bills Paid affidavit that you’ll receive at the end? Will you get a list of all the subcontractors that worked on your project? All of this and more should be laid out in the contract that you sign for your project!

Follow this process and you will end up with a home remodeler hand-picked to make your dream a reality.

Following are frequently asked questions along with the questions you really SHOULD be asking when vetting contractors. Have these pages at-the-ready when you make calls.

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Frequently Asked Questions

How long will my home remodel project take?

How much should my remodeling project cost?

How will I be kept informed about progress on my project?

Will the remodel be noisy? When?

Will it be really dusty and dirty? How do you help control this?

Who will be our contact for the project?

Will I be without power, water or gas during the remodel?

When do I need to make decisions on appliances, countertops, flooring, fixtures, etc.? Do you send me places or am I on my own to make selections?

Will my family need to move out during construction? How do we live in a remodel?

What about work schedules and rules for home access by team members during the project?

Who will be working on the project? Are they employees or subcontractors?

How many projects do you have going on at a time? And how do you manage that?

Have you done projects of my size?

Tell me about the people working on my project... How long have you known them?

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Should-Ask Questions

How can I make sure my remodeling project is finished on time and on budget?

What is the difference between an interior designer and interior decorator?

What types of insurance do you carry? Why is that important to me?

Are you a member of a national trade association?

Do you provide clean-up and debris removal during and after finishing a remodeling job?

How do you pay the people who work for you? Can we speak to someone that works for you to get their opinion on working for your company?

Does every remodeling job need a permit?

What is your warranty guarantee?

What area should I plan to invest the most in for my remodel?

May I have a list of references for projects you’ve completed which are similar to mine?

What is a design/build remodeling company and what are the advantages versus using a general contractor?

Have you or your team members been certified in remodeling or interior design, or had any special training or education, such as earning a Certified Remodeler (CR) or CGR, or RID, NCIDQ, or CAPS?

How do you keep up with building technologies, trends, etc.?

Where are the dumpster and port-a-potty placed?

Signature Home Services | 817-753-6668 | SignatureHomeServices.com

About Signature Home ServicesExceeding Expectations Every Day

Rob Mathews and Robin Burrill are the dynamic President and CEO of Signature Home Services. They are Tarrant County’s only husband and wife team with both a Certified Remodeler and Registered Interior Designer on staff. Since starting the business in 1995, they have consistently won national and local awards for their craftsmanship, design and business acumen, while simultaneously winning the hearts and loyalty of their incredible clients.

Rob Mathews’ demonstration of integrity, hard work and honesty in business is more than a business tactic—it’s an extension of how he and Robin live and view service to the community. Rob is a former United States Marine who also served as a firefighter and a paramedic on a trauma helicopter. He later completed his Registered Nursing degree to work as an emergency room pediatric nurse.

Rob is a member of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) holding his Certified Remodeler (CR), and also holds his Certified Graduate Remodeler (CGR). He is a Certified Lead Remediator with the EPA.

Robin is formally educated in interior design with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of North Texas and provides hands-on guidance to clients rounding out your experience with her elegant, lifestyle-focused design skills.

Robin is a member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) and served as President of the Texas Chapter 2014-2015, is a Registered Interior Designer with the State of Texas, has her Certified Aging in Place (CAPS) designation and is a member of the Interior Design Society (IDS) and is NCIDQ Certified. Robin is actively involved in the City of Keller, now serving on the Zoning Board of Adjustment after serving several years on the Public Arts Board.

Finding the right contractor can be a huge undertaking, even with the process this ebook outlines in place. Contact Signature Home Services if we can be of any assistance in your search!