How to Interview a Contractor

The Internet is a treasure trove of horror stories about awful home contractors that provided poor workmanship and shoddy tile jobs. Homeowners detail the sagas of discovering the wrong size tile after the fact, cracked tile haphazardly sealed, overcharging, laziness, and even contractors who bailed halfway during the job and went off the grid. Basically anything less than the result you expected and paid for, it’s happened to someone. The best way to prevent a contractor horror story is to thoroughly check and double-check his or her qualifications before hiring anybody. Don’t shy away from asking personal questions. It’s your home they’re entering and improving. Here are 20 questions you must ask during any contractor interview, as noted by Contractors From Hell.

1. What are your hourly or project rates and what kind of payment schedule and options do you accept? (Remember: You often get what you pay for!)

2. What is the total cost of my project, as broken down by line item?

3. Does my tile project require any special building permits? (Remember: You are responsible for obtaining these from your city.)

4. Are you licensed and insured in this state? What kind of liability insurance do you carry? (Remember: Make a copy of every insurance policy they prove.)

5. Do you have your own crew or do you hire independent subcontractors? How long have they worked for you? (Remember: You have the right to verify all background checks and insurance papers of any workers in your home-and you should.)

6. Do your employees carry workman’s compensation and liability insurance? (Remember: This is required in most states and your homeowner’s insurance should not be any claim of coverage.)

7. How long have you been in business? (Remember: Verify the office address and beware of P.O. Boxes-this is a red flag!)

8. Can you provide me with references for similar tile jobs? (Remember: Just because a family member or friend recommended someone obligate you to hire them.)

9. Will mine be your only job or will you be juggling multiple clients and subcontractors simultaneously?

10. How much time will you, the General Contractor, spend in my home working each day? What is your work schedule for my tile project?

11. Have you ever had any legal action taken against you or your business in this or any other state? (Remember: Verify any statements with the local courts if necessary.)

12. Have you conducted business in this state under any other name?

13. Have you ever declared bankruptcy?

14. How often do you communicate with your clients throughout the job?

15. Who fills in if you are called away or unavailable on a certain day?

16. What safety precautions do you take each day, and before you leave, do you clean up the workspace for livability?

17. How do I keep my pets and children safe while you are working in my home?

18. How would past customers describe your work? (Remember: Angie’s List is a good source for customer reviews.)

19. Tell me about a customer who was unsatisfied with your work. How did you resolve the problem? What negative constructive criticism did you receive from them?

Even if you forget to ask something before hiring a contractor, at least remember the number one rule of home remodeling: Always get everything-everything-in writing. Before a single tile is bought or cut, hash out all of the estimates, warranties, and timetables with your contractor and if you insist, a lawyer as well. Hiring a good contractor saves you time and stress. Hiring a bad one only costs you more in the end. Take the time to get a good one.

Learn more great tips on home improvement directly from the Denver Tile Installation website, just click through to the blog when you get there.

Born and raised in Ukraine, Youri Naimark was an construction engineer for 20 years (specializing in coal mine construction). In that time Youri oversaw major projects and won several State-level awards. After moving to US in 2002, Youri scaled down and started a Denver tile installation company. Since then Youri’s company has become a boutique home improvement firm. Youri has been publishing articles related to home improvement for over 3 years and recently he started a blog dedicated to proper home improvement practices and some Do-It-Yourself tips, which can be found at http://www.denverstileinstallation.com/blog/