Wednesday, May 11, 2005

 

Ten questions to ask a contractor’s previous customers

Choosing and hiring a professional remodeling contractor for your home improvement needs may take time, but the chance of shoddy work, excessive costs and legal aggravations should deter homeowners from snap decisions.

While homeowners evaluate professionals to complete a remodel, the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, in observance of May being National Home Improvement Month, recommends they ask the following questions of the contractor’s previous customers:

• Were they able to communicate well with the remodeler?

• Were they pleased with the quality of work? (This is a tough question, since everyone defines "quality" differently.)

• Were they satisfied with the remodeler's business practices?

• Did the crew show up on time?

• Were they comfortable with the trades people the remodeler subcontracted to?

• Was the job completed on schedule?

• Did the remodeler fulfill his or her contract?

• Did the remodeler stay in touch throughout the project?

• Were the final details finished in a timely manner?

• Would you use the remodeler again without hesitation?

If homeowners is not satisfied with the answers, they are urged to keep looking until they find a remodeling contractor with whom they can be comfortable.

NARI is a professional association whose members voluntarily subscribe to a strict code of ethics. Consumers may wish to search www.RemodelToday.com to find a qualified remodeler who is a member of NARI.

Consumers can also call the NARI National hotline at 800-611-NARI and request NARI’s brochure, “How to Select a Remodeling Professional,” or visit www.RemodelToday.com and click on the homeowner’s guide for more information.