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Taking on a home renovation is a huge investment in both time and money. With so many contractors in the Over-The-Mountain area, it can be difficult to decide who should complete the work you need to have done.

We have put together a few helpful tips to help you get started on your search for a remodeling contractor that will knock your socks off.

Whether you’re looking for the best restaurant in town or a new doctor, asking friends and family for a referral will probably get you what you want – the same goes for a contractor. Your friends and family will likely have similar wants and needs from a contractor, so getting a referral from them is more valuable than getting one from a Google search. 

Our area has dozens of contractors, but we are not all the same. We urge you to compile a list of contractors you think you’d like to work with and set up in-person interviews with them to see who would be the best fit.

Finding someone you mesh with is important since you will be in close contact for a few months, if not longer, depending on your project. You should also ask to talk to the contractor's designer and or project manager. You are going to be spending a tremendous amount of time with these two, so make sure you can work well together and that they understand your vision for the project.

When you interview a contractor, the first thing you should pay attention to is are they really listening to you? Are they actively listening AND understanding what you are trying to say? Are they asking engaging questions, trying to not only learn about what you are wanting to be done but also trying to learn why you want it done? 

You should ask them questions about their estimated timeline, do they work with subcontractors, do they provide a warranty on their work, and what a typical workday looks like. These questions should give you some insight into more than just the work they will produce but also their personality.

Before you sign a contract, make sure you do your research. Ask your potential contractor if they can provide references for jobs they are currently working on. You can also ask for past clients, but those can be easy to cherry-pick from. Then, take the time to contact these references and ask how the project went. You should ask questions about staying on schedule, sticking to the budget, and anything else you find important.

You should also ask the contractor to see a copy of their license and a copy of their proof of general liability insurance. A trustworthy contractor should have both and not hesitate to provide.

Lastly, see if you can meet at your contractor's office. Once you’re there, look around – does it look legit? Is it a huge mess with files and prints lying all over the place? These are good indicators of the type of work ethic and the quality of the finished product you can expect.

If your contractors told you it would take them eight months to complete your project, but one says they can have it done in two – don’t believe them.

Likewise, if one contractor’s price is significantly lower than another’s, you may want to ask yourself (and them) why they are so cheap, not necessarily why the others were so expensive. Be careful; overpromising and under delivering will lead to a lot of headaches and disappointment.

We would love to be considered if you’re looking for a remodeling contractor in the Birmingham area. We are an award-winning firm that will gladly walk you through the building process and answer any questions you may have. Give us a call!