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Appointing a Contractor (Post-Quote)

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  II. Appointing a Contractor (Post-Quote): The appointment: When the contractor arrives, take note of: ·        Punctuality & Professionalism/ how they conducted themselves. ·        Your gut-feel of the person. You are looking for someone who was reasonably punctual, ideally had a branded vehicle &/or handed you a business card, looked fairly presentable (for a Contractor), knew what he was talking about, explained himself (or herself) clearly & generally inspired confidence – someone you could see yourself working with. I’ve had clients tell me a previous Contractor had been out earlier, yet they did not know his name or the name of the company? If all this checks out, allocated a Star *. 1 st Star   Next, during the consultation, ask questions, like; 1.       Do you carry Public Liability & Contractors All Risk cover? 2.      ...
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How to find the right contractor to quote on your Home Improvement Project

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I. How to find the right contractor to quote on your Home Improvement Project Introduction: There are many horror stories from people who engaged a Contractor to perform home improvement /renovations & the project ended in disaster. This article will hopefully help you, the Home-Owner, minimize your chances of having your project ending in a disaster.   Over my 30 years in the industry, I have heard hundreds of stories of projects ending badly, in fact, barely a week goes by that I’m not told of another one, usually as I have been called out to assist with the aftermath. Over the years I have noticed certain ‘common threads’ through all these stories & finally decided to draw up guidelines to avoid being a victim of a project gone wrong.   Notes: 1. On large projects, like building a new home, new building, or a new wing to an existing home where plans need to be drawn up & approved, it is advisable to hire a project manager (the architect some...
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