New London Homeowners Insurance: How to Hire the Right Contractor

New London Homeowners Insurance: How to Hire the Right Contractor

When you own a home, there are many important financial considerations to make, from ensuring that you have the right New London CT Homeowners Insurance policy to understanding the costs involved with necessary or desired renovations. If you are thinking of remodeling your home but don’t necessarily have the know-how to do it yourself, you’ll want to look into hiring a contractor. In doing so, it’s important to know what to look for. Here are some professional tips on how to hire the right contractor.

Get Recommendations

Sometimes the best advice you can get is from friends or family members who have had some remodeling done themselves. Another resource you can use for a list of reputable contractors is the National Association of the Remodeling Industry.

Do Phone Interviews

Ask the right type of questions of your potential contractors. Questions may include:

• Do they take on projects of your size?
• Are they willing to provide financial references from suppliers or banks?
• Can they give you a list of previous clients?
• How many other projects will they have going on?

Meet Face to Face

It’s a good idea to pick three or four contractors to meet for estimates and further discussion. It’s crucial that you communicate well with your contractor since they will be in or at your home for hours at a time, potentially when you are not present.

Make Plans and Get Bids

A reputable contractor will want a complete set of blue prints and also a sense of what the homeowners want out of a project, plus what they plan to spend. To compare bids, ask your potential contractors to break down the cost of materials, labor, profit margins, and any other expenses they expect.

These tips are a good starting point for hiring the right contractor. Be sure also to set up a payment schedule. The contractor’s willingness to commit to a payment schedule speaks to their financial status and work ethic, which can and will ultimately affect your project. Overall, many homeowners who have been through a renovation will say that it’s better to spend more and get someone you are comfortable with, than to not pay as much but end up with someone who you don’t communicate well with.

At Byrnes Agency, we understand that your home is one of your biggest investments. Homeowners throughout Connecticut and Southern New England look to us to protect their homes in the event of damage or liability. To learn more about our coverages, please contact us today at one of our various locations.